Nitish, Sonia should explain stand on Lalu's beef remark: BJP leader

Says Lalu's remarks that the Hindus too eat beef is insulting

Criticising RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's remarks that the Hindus too eat beef, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi today asked Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to explain their stand on the issue.

"Lalu's remarks that the Hindus too eat beef is insulting to say the least...The Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Congress President Sonia Gandhi must explain their stand on the said controversial remarks by a leader of their alliance partner," he told reporters.

Stating that the BJP was committed to preservation and protection of cows and pledged as much in its vision document for Bihar Assembly polls, he said, if the BJP-led NDA government comes to power, it will set up a cow nourishment directorate and provide grants for restoration of cow shelters in Bihar.

The senior BJP leader also took potshots at the secular alliance for apparent "discordance" in its ranks with leaders of different partners trying to ignore each other at their respectively rallies.

He said that RJD supremo Lalu Prasad stayed away from the Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's rally last month, while the Congress president Sonia Gandhi did not take Prasad's name at her rallies yesterday.

"What type of alliance is this in which leaders of partner refuse to speak for their counterparts of other parties of the same alliance" he asked.

Claiming that the secular alliance was in "disarray" even before the polls in Bihar, Modi said that it will "disintegrate" after the polls.