Narendra Modi’s Red Fort dream will remain dream: Nitish Kumar

Zee Media Bureau

Rajgir: The tussle between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi heightened on Tuesday when the former took jibes at the latter on the concluding day of Janata Dal (United)’s Chintan Shivir here. Addressing the convention, Kumar said his party’s 17-year-old alliance with the BJP broke because the Bharatiya Janata Party did not need the JD(U) anymore. "It is the BJP which is responsible for the split," he said. Launching a bitter attack on Modi, two days after he hit out at Nitish Kumar here, “Look at the language they are using...". Taking on BJP’s `Hunkar` rally, the Bihar CM said the name of the rally suggested arrogance. “You all have betrayed us. That phase of BJP is not there anymore. I told Advani ji that now no one will listen to you.” Taking potshots at his Gujarat counterpart, Kumar said: "I heard that people of Gujarat love icecream, but why doesn`t that sweetness reflect in your words.” "Modi was noticed wiping his face. A man who aspires to be at the highest position of India should be patient...People sitting on top of the country need to be brave," quipped Kumar. “His Red Fort dream will remain dream.” He compared the "dream" with what he described as "BJP`s hype" over Modi. "This `hava` (wind) is not natural. It has been produced by a blower." Reacting to the statement made by JD(U) senior leader Shivanand Tiwari, who earlier in the day hailed Modi for rising to heights despite having a poor background, Kumar said: “It`s good to dream about being a PM. I have no experience of selling tea, but I too come from a modest background. Our background is also not very high.” Condemning a series of terror attacks ahead of the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate’s rally in Gandhi Maidan in Patna, Kumar tried to assure that adequate security was provided for the Modi rally. "Some old friends have accused me of not making adequate security arrangements. I asked the security officials to sanitise the venue where the tragedy took place." Regarding the special status, Kumar expressed dissatisfaction and noted the Central government said that Bihar needs to get special status but failed to deliver the same. Bihar demanded Rs 20,000 crore from centre and got Rs 12,000 crore, noted Kumar. “We are demanding special status, it is our right not charity. We are made of determinationw We will get Bihar its rights. And we will get what is our due.” Vowing not to cow down, Kumar said he would continue to fight for his principles, even if it kills him. “We will fight for Bihar till our last breath,” added Kumar. Commenting on poll surveys, Kumar told the party workers that they are meant to confuse them. “We will bring back the golden era of the state and take India ahead,” retorted Kumar.