Support for demonetisation doesn't mean closeness to BJP: Nitish

Bihar CM asserts 'grand alliance' in will last full five years, rubbishes talk of doing a ghar wapasi to BJP

Asserting that the 'grand alliance' in Bihar will last its full five years, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday said his support for the Narendra Modi governments demonetisation move shouldn't be interpreted as an indication of getting closer to former ally BJP.

"I am completely against corruption and I support any step against it without giving a thought. I support demonetisation because it is a good step. But then, my support for it should not be given a political interpretation that I am getting closer to the BJP," he said at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.

Nitish Kumar, whose Janata Dal-United was in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party for 17 years before parting ways in 2014, reiterated that there will be no "ghar wapasi" (homecoming) to the former ally.

He also refused to react to Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan's comment that the JD-U chief was welcome to become a part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance one again.

"He (Paswan) is the same man who went to Pakistan and said he broke alliance with the BJP after the Gujarat riots, and today he is saying such things. I do not react to statements of such people," said Nitish Kumar.

He also rubbished reports of having met BJP President Amit Shah post the demonetisation announcement.

 

"The journalist who had reported it, the meeting happened at her farm house. So she should answer," said Nitish Kumar about the media report.

He said the grand alliance forged with foe-turned-friend Lalu Prasad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal, will last for full five years.

 

"Why should there be a question like that," Nitish Kumar retorted when asked if the grand alliance would last the full term. "Its has been more than a year that the alliance has been working. So much work has been done," he said.

Denying allegations of "lawlessness" in Bihar, he asserted he "cannot compromise on rule of law".

--IANS

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