Modi slams Nitish for ditching BJP, dubs him backstabber

BJP PM candidate claims in his 'Hunkar rally' that Bihar CM not only cheated the saffron party but also his mentors and the people of his state

A series of low-intensity blasts at the venue of BJP's ambitious "Hunkar Rally" on Sunday did not deter the party's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi from attacking his bete noire Nitish Kumar, that too on his own turf. The Gujarat Chief Minister termed his Bihar counterpart as an "opportunist", who "betrayed and backstabbed" the people for prime ministerial dreams.

At his first political rally in Bihar in years, as Kumar kept him away during the period of BJP-JD(U) alliance, Modi repeatedly took digs at the Chief Minister, "The chief minister here is my friend. People asked me why your friend has left the BJP. My reply to them was that the person who could leave Jayaprakash Narayan and Lohia can also leave BJP."

He alleged that Kumar was now dreaming of becoming the prime minister and was therefore playing hide and seek with the Congress, against whom his mentors JP and Lohia fought all their lives. "The one who claims to be JP and Lohia's disciple has stabbed them in back. Whether their followers will forgive him or not, their souls would never forgive him,"

Saying Kumar's behaviour reeked of hypocrisy, he said, "I and my friend happened to meet on the same table during a luncheon hosted by the PM. He was uncomfortable and looking around. I understood the matter and told him, there are no cameras around. You can have your lunch. There is a limit to hypocrisy."

He added that the BJP gave up its right to form a government in Bihar even though it had more MLAs than the JD(U). "For us, the interest of the nation is more important. We let Nitish be the CM so that jungle raj could end. Despite several requests, I did not come to campaign in Bihar, so that the government would not fall and jungle raj would not return. He did not cheat the BJP, but the people of Bihar. Lets oust these backstabbers."

The rally was pegged as show of strength for the BJP after its bitter split with the JD(U) four months ago and the saffron party pulled out all stops to make it a success. However, just before Modi's speech, several blasts rocked the venue and left 5 dead and around 70 injured. According to unconfirmed reports, the police has nabbed one of the perpetrators and looking for others. The Prime Minister has spoken to Kumar and asked him for speedy investigation.