Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lahore visit saying it would help solve disputes between India and Pakistan.
"I think the PM's visit to Pakistan on the occasion of birthday of his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif or marriage in his family was right," Kumar told reporters here.
"This will help solve issues of dispute between India and Pakistan. Such initiative is good," he said.
Apparently referrering to the terrorist attack in Pathankot, Kumar said "whenever the two countries strech their hands to normalise the situation some incidents would happen. When Atal Bihari Vajpayee had gone to Pakistan, Kargil took place."
"There are many forces which do not want good relations between the two countries. When a democratically-elected government in Pakistan makes an effort to solve the disputes, many problems are created in the way," he said.
Kumar said "when democratic government gains strength, other organisations would lose influence which would pave the way for improvement in ties. This is my personal thinking and has nothing to do with politics."
Even as Kumar was supportive of the PM's unscheduled visit to Pakistan on December 25, his ally and RJD chief Lalu Prasad said "Modi and BJP used to make tall statements on Pakistan before election like '56 inch chest' and 'will see eyeball to eyeball with Pakistan'...What happened to it?...Pakistanis entered our home and killed defence personnel in Pathankot."
"BJP made a hue and cry when two engineers were killed in Darbhanga (for extortion demand). But now Pakistanis have entered our home and killed our men and BJP's mouth is shut on it," Prasad told reporters after filing nomination for the post of RJD national president at the state party headquarter.
