Patna: The ruling JD(U) in Bihar Monday held ally BJP responsible for friction between the two over
flood relief advertisements, but said it wanted to continue
ties with the saffron party "in true spirit".
"We hold BJP responsible for the present mess arising
out of the developments over (Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra)
Modi ... But, we want to continue the relationship between the
two parties," JD(U) national spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari
said.
"The alliance should continue. It is the need of the
hour to keep the people away from `jungle raj` which was
unleashed by RJD-LJP combine and Congress earlier," he said,
adding the ties should continue in true spirit.
Tiwari said had the BJP prevented the advertisements
from being published at the time of its national executive
here on June 12 and 13 that showed Modi holding hands with
Kumar and the other advertisement about the relief for Kosi
flood victims from Gujarat, the situation would have been
averted.
"What we (alliance) did with full commitment for the
uplift of minorities has come a cropper because of the
advertisements for which the BJP alone is responsible," Tiwari
said.
"People know that Bihar has a different political
background. Everybody knows that the leader of the alliance is
Nitish Kumar... so what is the problem with the BJP in
accepting the truth when elections are around the corner?" he
asked.
He said if the chief minister objected to his Gujarat
counterpart electioneering in Bihar, the BJP should concede it
instead of stating that it would be decided at an appropriate
time.
Tiwari asked the BJP to ponder over whether it would
really gain from campaigning by Modi. "Are people of the state
prepared to accept Modi as a leader? Will he be able to
convince the electorate?"
He suggested that both sides be open to a threadbare
discussion on these issues.
PTI
