BJP dares Nitish to end alliance with it

RANCHI: BJP today dared JDU leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to part ways with it in the wake of his decision to return the Rs five-crore aid given by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

"If he (Nitish) does not want to continue the alliance with BJP, let him clearly announce it. There is no use of doing this drama," senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha told reporters here.

Sinha termed as "childish" the decision of Nitish to return the relief funds given by Modi for Kosi flood victims.

"What Nitishji has done is a childish act," he said. Nitish took the step after local papers last week carried advertisements about the help given by the Gujarat government for the 2008 Kosi victims. The money was lying unspent in the chief minister's relief fund.

The BJP leader said there was such an episode which was over now.

"JDU chief Sharad Yadav has also said that the chapter has been closed. I cannot understand what is the logic behind returning the relief funds as far as Nitishji does not make it clear that he has decided to part ways with BJP," Sinha said.