On the eve of JD(U)'s rally in the national capital, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said it should not be seen as a show of strength ahead of next Lok Sabha elections but was only an "attempt to get the rights" of Bihar which will also benefit other backward states.
"This is not any display of power but an attempt to get our rights. This is why we have termed it Adhikar rally. We have been demanding this for a long time," Kumar told reporters after his arrival in Delhi today.
Taking the argument beyond Bihar, Kumar at the same time added "it is a struggle for the rights of a backward state, which will ultimately benefit other backward states as well".
Responding to a volley of questions regarding political intent of the rally, Kumar said, "the issues you are talking about are non-existent. The fight against backwardness will move ahead."
To a specific query on whether he should have taken the BJP along, the Bihar Chief Minister said, "Everyone is together. These are all confusions. This is a proposal agreed to by everyone. This is being implemented on the resolution passed by the legislative assembly and the legislative council."
Kumar's rally here comes a fortnight after the central government proposed to change the parameters of determining backwardness of states, an announcement immediately welcomed by the Chief Minister, who interpreted it as a positive step towards realising the goal of special status for Bihar.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram's announcement in the budget in this regard and its immediate welcome by Kumar fuelled speculations of JD-U coming closer to Congress at a time when Narendra Modi's stocks appeared to be rising in the BJP with whom Kumar's antipathy is well-known.
Kumar remained evasive on whether he will go with UPA if it accepted their demands and shot back "what is the basis of this question".
When pointed out that he had earlier expressed similar thoughts in a rally, the Bihar Chief Minister merely said, "whatever I have to say, you will hear that tomorrow. It is not necessary that I say everything now only.
