Nitish at peace after PM called him ‘secular’

Zee Media Bureau

Patna: Indicative of the changing equations, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for calling him ‘secular’. Reacting to Dr Singh’s statement, Nitish said, "He (Singh) has spoken the truth and one should always speak the truth and coming from the Prime Minister of the country, certainly gives me comfort and I offer my heartiest thanks to him for saying so." "The Prime Minister only said the things which I am," Kumar said. Asked if it indicated the possibility of a tie-up with Congress as the national party may support JD(U) in the confidence vote in Bihar Assembly tomorrow, Kumar said, "Kal kisne dekha hain (who has seen the future). Many things lie in the womb of future." The Bihar Chief Minister said, "The prevailing political situation in the country is clear. We were left with no other option and that is why we accepted this (breaking ties with BJP)." Kumar said, "We can sacrifice anything for the sake of principles." "Our alliance with BJP was in the context of Bihar and on the basis of keeping away from controversial issues of the country," he said. "The situation has changed," he said hinting at Modi being chosen to lead BJP during the campaiging for 2014 polls. On BJP observing "Viswasghat Divas" and calling Bihar bandh, he said, "When you break up from something, it initially leads to venting of anger." "Keeping in view the long association, I`ll try to have good relations with them (BJP)," he said. "Political issues would be answered politically," Kumar said. The PM had yesterday said that the Bihar Chief Minister was ‘secular’ and that the Congress party always sought support from ‘right-minded’ people. "I cannot speculate on that or what happens in the future. We need support of all right-minded parties. In parliament, we look for their support," Singh said when asked whether Congress would seek JD(U)`s support. "In politics there are no permanent friends or enemies. We will decide as situation evolves," he added. The JD(U) split from the BJP on Sunday, its ally of seventeen years, over the elevation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as his party’s poll panel chief for 2014 General Elections. With PTI inputs