Strongly reacting to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP's) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's allegations about security lapses during last month's serial blasts in Patna's Gandhi Maidan, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday labelled Modi a 'habitual liar'.
Modi had also alleged that Nitish Kumar was missing when the blasts occurred on October 27, and added that he was in Rajgir enjoying delicious food.
"Modi should not speak such a lie. I was present in Patna the day the blasts occurred. Soon after the blasts, I cancelled all my programmes and held a high-level meeting with top officials. On the evening of October 27, I addressed a press conference here in Patna, and at night, visited those injured in the blasts at the Patna Medical College and Hospital," he told media here today.
He further asserted that there was enough security deployed at the Gandhi Maidan ahead of Modi's 'Hunkar' rally.
"BJP leaders are lying. There was adequate security for the rally. A large number of security personnel were deployed for the rally," he added.
"Half the ground was empty. If these blasts had not happened, everyone would been talking about how poor the attendance was at Gandhi Maidan," he added
Kumar also hit back at Modi for visiting the victims of the Patna blasts, and asked how many victims did he meet after the 2008 blasts in Gujarat.
The BJP has repeatedly accused Nitish Kumar-led Bihar Government of being casual about proper security arrangements ahead of Modi's Patna rally on October 27.
