Nitish Kumar dares opposition to move no-confidence motion against him

PATNA: Rattled by persistent criticism of his government by opposition parties, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar dared the opposition to bring in a no-confidence motion and defeat his government on the floor of the House if they have the numbers to do so.

"If my government is weak and has failed on all fronts, then why don't they (opposition) bring in a no-confidence motion and defeat us on the floor of the House," he said, in reply to a special debate on the issues of terrorism, communalism and naxalism in the Assembly.

"I am here to run the government following the mandate of the common people and not due to the mercy of these people (opposition)," the Chief Minister said.

Slamming the opposition, mainly the BJP, for running a "propaganda to malign him and his government" ever since he dumped the erstwhile ally six months ago, Kumar said the new opposition has mastered the craft of converting non-issues into major issues to denounce his government.

He further charged the BJP with fomenting communal frenzy in Bihar after it was thrown out of power by him saying that communalism and terrorism were equally dangerous and both posed serious challenge to peace, communal amity and law and order and must be dealt with equal force.

Kumar vowed to crush communal forces even at the cost of his life and said such elements would not be allowed to vitiate peace and communal harmony in Bihar as the state and its people have been secular to the core.

"I will put even my own life at stake to crush communal forces in Bihar," he said amid applause from the treasury bench.