Narendra Modi's proposed visit to Bihar to launch BJP's Lok Sabha campaign at the 'Hoonkar Rally' has reopened old wounds with a party leader today slamming Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for cancelling the dinner scheduled for its leaders over three years ago.
"Modi's proposed visit has reopened our old wounds," Leader of Opposition in Bihar assembly Nandkishore Yadav told reporters here.
"We cannot forget that Kumar had cancelled at the last minute a scheduled dinner that he was hosting for visiting BJP leaders during the party's national executive here in June 2010 due to his antipathy for Modi," he said.
The Bihar Chief Minister had not only insulted the people of Bihar, but also denigrated its culture and tradition which teach people to honour guests and treat them well, Yadav, who was a cabinet minister in the Nitish Kumar government prior to the split between JD(U) and BJP, said.
He urged the people to disapprove of the chief minister's conduct by ensuring that all participants at the rally are fed well during their stay here and by participating in the rally.
"Kumar may have insulted BJP leaders and by doing so insulted the people of Bihar. But we will not stoop so low. We will ensure that proper arrangements are made to provide breakfast, food packets and water for people participating in the rally," he said.
Kumar had cancelled a scheduled dinner for BJP delegates at the last minute in June 2010 apparently in protest against publication of advertisements in local media showing him and Modi holding each other's hands in an expression of solidarity.
The photograph was taken at an NDA election meeting in Punjab in 2009 and a Gujarat-based agency had issued the controversial advertisement in dailies in Patna coinciding with the BJP national executive, which was attended among others by Modi.
