Launching a scathing attack on the BJP for its "jungle raj 2" barb, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today asked "what were the 2002 Gujarat riots?"
"Godhra ka 2002 ka danga kya tha iska jawab de (They should answer what were the 2002 communal riots at Godhra in Gujarat)?" Kumar told reporters in a strong retort to BJP President Amit Shah over his "jungle raj 2" remarks at BJP National Executive meeting in Bengaluru.
"What moral right do they have to talk over the law and order situation in other places?" he asked coming out of a function of the state Road Construction Department here.
Kumar, who assumed reins of the state for the fourth time on February 22, said the rule of law prevailed in Bihar.
On Shah's claim that BJP would rule for more than 10 years, Kumar in a sarcastic comment said it has started losing steam and is drawing the anger of people even before the completion of a year in power.
The Bihar CM said the BJP was an expert in making such tall claims in a bid to "hide its failure" and added the party was good in making "jumblebazi" (superlative sayings).
"Its better if the BJP is named as 'Bhartiya Jumblebaaz Party'," said Kumar, hitting at its former companion of 17 years.
Setting the tone for a bitter electoral battle due this October, Shah in his inaugural speech at the BJP National Executive meeting yesterday had alleged "jungle raj 2" was in place in Bihar after JD(U) broke off alliance with it in the wake of Narendra Modi being declared the party's prime ministerial candidate.
The expression "Jungle raj" is used to deride the bad law and order situation which prevailed in Bihar during the 15 years of RJD rule in the state from 1990 to 2005.
