Cacophemism and name-calling marked the high-volatge sparring today between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the Bihar electoral battle.
Adressing a rally in Gaya, Modi, who had recently described Lalu Prasad's RJD as a party signifying "Rojana Jungle Raj Ka Dar", coined another name for its ally JD(U) calling it "Janata ka Daman aur Utpidan (Oppression and Suppression of People)".
Hitting back, Kumar said BJP means Badka Jhutha Party (party of big liars) and 'Bhartiya Jumla Party'.
"If PM brings down the standard of discourse by describing our party as Janata Ka Daman aur Utpiran and runs down Bihar and its people, then I am constrained to say that the BJP means Badka Jhutha Party," he told reporters.
"I cannot think of any other name for the BJP other than it being a Badka Jhutha Party (Big Liars Party) at this stage....I may think about some other name depending on the PM's barb at us," Kumar said in a tit-for-tat.
Not stopping at that he said BJP will be now called 'Bhartiya Jumla Party' and recalled BJP chief Amit Shah's statement about Prime Minister's promise of bringing back black money stashed abroad that it was mere "jumla" (platitude).
"People will now call it 'Bhartiya Jumla Party'...I even
saw an advertisement which described it as 'Bada Jhootha Party'," he said.
Kumar accused Modi of bringing down the standard of discourse in public life by making personal and baseless attacks on his political rivers
He also accused of Modi of lying that tourists' footfall was low in Bihar, particularly in Gaya, due to lack of infrastructure
"It's matter of regret that the PM spoke negative things and lies in a holy town like Gaya," Kumar said and asked the former to check data with the tourism ministry.
Kumar also lshed out at Modi for warning of a return of 'Jungle Raj' if JD(U)-RJD alliance were to come to power after the assembly elections, reminding him of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's advice made in the aftermath of 2002 Gujarat riots to follow 'Raj Dharma'.
Modi said, "If Jungle Raj part II arrives, everything will be ruined. During Jungle Raj part I there was no experience of jail, which would be there now. Nobody learns good things in jail", hinting at RJD chief Lalu Prasad's incarceration in the fodder scam.
To this, Kumar retorted ,"Why doesn't he remember Vajpayee's advice of following Raj Dharma after the Gujarat riots. Such a situation has never been witnessed here."
Kumar said that he had hoped that Prime Minister will come up with some package for Bihar during his second visit in two weeks and withdraw the 'DNA' remark on him which Modi should not have said at the first instance given that he occupied a high constitutional post.
