Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today questioned BJP's silence on the issue of "large-scale purchase of land" in the state ahead of demonetisation and said if the matter comes before his government it will act on it.
"The JD(U) has raised the question of large-scale purchase of land by BJP in Bihar ahead of demonetisation for opening offices... BJP should answer from where they got this much of money for the purpose," he told reporters after his newly- launched programme 'Lok Samvad'.
Kumar's party JD(U) has questioned BJP's land purchase and has even demanded a CBI probe into it.
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Asked if the state government would act on a complaint of land purchase, he said, "The issue is raised by party and has not come to my level. But, if something comes, the registration department will certainly look into it."
On a question of reports of large flow of money in Jan Dhan accounts, particularly in Naxal-affected areas of Bihar, he said the matter concerns the central government and added, if any assistance was sought from the state it would provide it.
In reply to an another question on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stress to convert the country into a cash-less economy, Kumar said "It can be an idea, but use of cash is part of people's habit and total cashless is not possible."
He trashed as "bakwas" (baseless talk) of Union Minister of State Giriraj Singh advocating "nasbandi" (sterilisation) along with demonetisation, for better result.
Kumar reiterated that he supported demonetisation as a measure against black money, but emphasised "desired results will come only when it is coupled with a hit on benami properties including real estate, gold, diamond and prohibition".
He refused to comment on TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's oblique remark of "gaddar" (traitor) for his support to demonetisation.
Kumar also congratulated Modi for winning the TIME magazine's Person of the Year via online reader's polls.
He expressed sadness over the health condition of Tamil Nadu counterpart Jayalalithaa and prayed for her early recovery.
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The Bihar CM's announcement on creation of Guru circuit was cheered by lakhs of Sikh devotees who have thronged to Patna for the mega event.
Creation of Guru circuit is aimed at tapping the tourism potential of Sikh devotees from across the world to the state.
In his speech on the occasion of closing of 350th Prakash Parva, Kumar referred to the prohibition campaign launched by his government and urged the Prime Minister to spread it across the country.
The Bihar CM said like Prakash Parva, his government was making elaborate preparations to celebrate 100 years of Champaran Satyagraha launched by Mahatama Gandhi against British empire in 1917.
Kumar drew rich praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal for taking personal interest in holding the historic occasion in a grand manner.
