BJP ally criticises those 'vitiating' atmosphere in Bihar

BJP ally and Union minister Upendra Kushwaha today asked the Bihar government to take stringent action against those trying to "vitiate atmosphere" in the state.

Though the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) chief did not take names, his statement appeared to be aimed at a section of BJP leaders who have claimed that a man was killed by a mob in Darbhanga last week because he had named a roundabout after Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Union minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh was among those who made the allegation after visiting the area, despite the claims of the state government, in which the BJP is a partner, that the murder was a fallout of a land dispute and it had nothing to do with the roundabout's name.

"Some people are constantly trying to vitiate atmosphere in Bihar," Kushwaha said, according to a party's statement in which he asked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take stringent action against such people.

His remarks follow the unease expressed by another BJP ally from Bihar and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan. He had advised the party to take along all sections of society.