Nitish Kumar justifies Lalu Prasad Yadav at government event

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar came out strongly in defence of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, justifying his presence during an official event in Raghopur on Sunday.

Mr Kumar, taking a stand in favour of Mr Yadav, said that there was nothing wrong in inviting him to an official function and that he was a former chief minister of the state and also a partner of the ruling coalition in Bihar. “They have the habit of creating confusion among people about government, they have been doing this only to gain popularity,” Mr Kumar said, while addressing the masses in Raghopur on Sunday, during the inaugural function of six-lane Ganga bridge from Didar Ganj in Patna to Biddupur in Vaishali district. He said consulting his coalition partners was his “gathbandhan dharma” as they have full faith in him and there was complete transparency in his government.

“We don’t politicise works of development but they politicise everything, even developmental work. Invitation was sent to them as well but they didn’t come. This shows their seriousness towards development,” Mr Kumar said.

The Opposition parties, questioning Mr Yadav’s role in the government, had even accused him of using his clout over Mr Kumar and said that the RJD chief was using the health ministry to “interfere in the governance”.

Former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi and other senior BJP leaders had even taken a dig at Mr Kumar asking him to “declare Lalu Prasad Yadav as super chief minister if he was working under his influence”.

Lalu Yadav who was present during the event in Raghopur attacked the BJP and claimed that there was no misunderstanding between him and Nitish Kumar. He said “If he wishes then his government will run for another twenty years”. Adding he said, “Nitish Kumar through his efforts can make Bihar shine, he laid the foundation of this mega bridge before the election and work will begin from today”.