Need for maximum oppn unity, note ban a diversion: Nitish

There is need for maximum opposition unity against BJP based on a proper agenda, Bihar Chief Nitish Kumar said today in comments that were also critical of demonetisation which he felt was done without preparation.
After initially backing the note ban decision, Kumar slammed it for the first time, saying it was done without preparation and accused the government and BJP of indulging in "diversionary tactics" by changing the narrative.
Significantly, he also appeared to be not averse to Rahul Gandhi's leadership as he said the Congress vice president should take the lead in setting the agenda and not allow BJP to do so.

Kumar's remarks on the opposition unity were shared by CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, who said such a unity should be on the basis of a common programme and not personalities.
They were participating in a panel discussion on the occasion of the launch of a book 'Fearless in Opposition', authored by senior Congress leader P Chidambaram. The book is a second collection of his articles published in the Indian Express. It was attended among others by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Gandhi besides leaders of various parties.
The Bihar Chief Minister today agreed with Singh's attack that it was a monumental management failure. "It's a fact," he said adding that the note ban decision was taken without any preparation.

He said he had welcomed it immediately because he had seen President Pranab Mukherjee suppoting it the day after the decision was announced with the objectives of eliminating black money, corruption and fake currency.

"But they (government and BJP) are experts in diverting the debate. Now they are changing the narrative to cashless society which is impossible in India," the JD(U) President said.
He also said that the demonetisaton decision itself was a diversion because the pre-election promise of putting Rs 15 lakh in each individual's bank account after bringing all the black money from abroad was haunting them and they had no achievement to show.

"The government should now disclose how much black money was collected. How much old notes came back into the system and disclose overall what were the benefits. How much success was achieved by demonetisation. Don't divert. It will achieve nothing," he said.
Kumar said the BJP-led NDA government rakes up issues and juimp from one to another because they have nothing to show for their achievements.