Nitish Kumar plays safe, plans to skip Aakrosh Diwas

NEW DELHI: Known for springing surprises, Bihar Chief Minister and JD (U) national president Nitish Kumar has once again kept opposition parties guessing about his ambitions in national politics by openly supporting the Centre’s demonetisation drive.

JD(U) has decided to stay away from the November 28 all-India protest called by opposition parties against the demonetisation exercise. The party has also started aggressively targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Bihar unit by demanding a probe to ascertain if black money was used for alleged purchase of land by the latter ( BJP) in different districts of Bihar before the November 8 demonetisation decision for setting up its offices.

JD(U)’s spokespersons are regularly holding press conferences in Patna to highlight the alleged purchase of lands at different places by the BJP in the recent past.

Nitish Kumar’s decision to avoid his party’s participation in the November 28 “Aakrosh Diwas” call given by opposition parties in protest against demonetisation might not be in good taste for JD (U)’s allies — Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress — in the Grand Alliance ruling in Bihar. “We are in alliance. We have not merged. So everyone has right to take independent views on such matters. On government matters, all allies are one,” JD(U) MLC and spokesperson Neeraj Kumar told ET on phone.

To a question regarding JD (U)’s decision to skip “Aakrosh Diwas” call given by opposition parties, spokesperson KC Tyagi said, “We see it as a positive step to check black money. We are with the “Sanyukta Vipaksha” on all other questions. We even participated in the demonstration held outside the Parliament recently.