Nitish's retraction of "snake" comment will not wash: Naidu

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's clarification on his "snake and sandalwood" tweet will not wash with the "intelligent" people of the state.
"How can the answer be about BJP? It is undefendable. Bihar people are intelligent," Naidu tweeted.
One @SunilVChandak had posed a question to Kumar on his programme "Ask Nitish" on Twitter on July 20--"#AskNitish if you win with Laluji and the numbers are significant, how you will be able to give good development ordinated government?"
In reply, Kumar had tweeted, "Bihar's development is my sole agenda. Jo Rahim uttam prakriti, ka kari sakat kusang. Chandan vish vyapat nahi, lipte rahat bhujang (Bad company doesn't affect a virtuous man, as the sandalwood tree does not become venomous despite snakes wrapping themselves around it)."

The tweet created a flutter in the poll-bound state as it was seen as directed against his ally RJD chief Lalu Prasad, prompting the Bihar Chief Minister to clarify that it was aimed at BJP.
"You can't retract Nitish Ji. Question was regarding your pre-poll alliance with Lalu ji," Naidu tweeted.