Modi, President dates clash, sparks row

New Delhi: Slamming the Nitish Kumar government for trying to “sabotage” its Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s much hyped “Hunkar” rally in the state, the BJP on Monday claimed its former ally JD(U) is all set to board Congress’ 'corruption-laden' ship as the ruling party is using the CBI to put pressure on Kumar, over his alleged involvement in the fodder scam, for an alliance. Asserting that BJP had announced the rally’s date way back in March, the saffron party accused Kumar of trying to sabotage it by inviting President Pranab Mukherjee in the state at the same time. JD(U) had snapped its 17-year-old ties with the BJP over Modi’s elevation. The party claimed “Hunkar” rally on October 27 would see the largest gathering ever seen in the country’s history and said Modi’s growing popularity in Nitish Kumar ruled state and the enthusiasm among people to attend the rally has worried the chief minister so much so that he is “using the President’s shoulder to fire at” its former ally. “If you fear NaMo (Narendra Modi) so much, why use Honorable President’s shoulder to fire Have courage to bring your partner Rahul Gandhi to Bihar,” senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain tweeted earlier during the day. BJP clarified that it is not against the President visiting the state or Bihar being given a special status as it will gain from it. However, deliberate attempts should not be made to prevent Modi’s rally from taking place, it said. Hussain said the President’s programme could not have been scheduled without the consent of the state government and the clash of timing is deliberate. Next: Nov. 16: Modi’s date with city Nov. 16: Modi’s date with city Bengaluru: Bharatiya Janata Party’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will sound the poll bugle for next year's general elections at a mammoth gathering here on November 16, and follow it up with whirlwind visits to eight cities across the state over the next two months. Senior leader and Rajya Sabha member M. Venk aiah Naidu said the leader would drum up support well before the announcement of Lok Sabha polls. In all probability, Modi would address the first rally at Bengaluru Palace Grounds. Sources in the party said the question of collecting an entry fee for the rally here is still under consideration as leaders of the state unit are divided over it. Venkaiah Naidu said the party would hold public rallies in all 28 Lok Sabha constituencies of Karnataka between November 20 and December 15. The question of why Modi would expend his political energies campaigning in Karnataka, when key BJP run states go to the polls in Nov-Dec. and he should rightly be campaigning in MP, Chattisgarh, Delhi and Rajasthan remained unanswered.