BJP fumes over Nitish Kumar`s remark on Patna blasts

New Delhi: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar`s remark that blasts at Narendra Modi`s Patna rally had benefited BJP on Monday left the party fuming which said it had doubts about the JD(U) leader`s mental state. BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi went on to add that Bihar needed more mental health institutes.

"I can only say that there is a question mark over the mindset... The mental state of Nitish Kumar," she said at a press conference while replying to queries on Kumar`s comments. She said Bihar is lagging behind in several aspects and mental health institutes is one of them. "The state needs more mental institutes," Lekhi said. Justifying her remarks against Kumar, Lekhi said, "He has given no reaction on the death of six persons in the rally nor expressed happiness that so many lives were saved. By the grace of God, a stampede was averted. Though 15 bombs went off, he has offered no condolences." JD(U) was a part of BJP-led NDA for 17 years before it cut-off ties following Modi`s elevation as BJP Election Campaign Committee Chief at the party`s conclave in Goa this June. "Nitish has called Ishrat Jahan (who was killed in an alleged fake encounter in Gujarat) Bihar ki beti (Bihar`s daughter). This is a blot on Bihar," Lekhi said. The party alleged that it is due to laxity in security arrangements by the Nitish Kumar government that these blasts took place. "Kumar looks at everything with a political motive," Lekhi said. Kumar today told reporters in Patna, "The incidence of serial blasts at the rally in Patna was most condemnable... But terrorists in a way helped BJP, otherwise its rally at Patna was flop in terms of size of crowd."