Nitish Kumar slams Narendra Modi for 2002 Gujarat riots

MOHANIA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today lambasted his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi saying that the country could neither forget the communal riots in the latter's state in 2002 nor forgive for the genocide.

"Justice was not done with the people of Gujarat by not protecting them," Kumar said addressing JD(U) "Sankalp" rally here in Kaimur district.

He recollected that peeved over the incident former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had commented that "Raj dharma" was not observed.

"The Raj Dharma entails working for all sections of the society without caste or communal discriminations," he said in reference to the episode of Gujarat.

He blamed the BJP for breaking relations with JD(U) and accused the former ally in violating the agreement that neither controversial issues would be raised nor a controversial personality be given leadership.

Taking a dig at BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, Kumar further alleged that election surveys were "sponsored" as part of the Public Relations campaign of a party to fulfil interest of the "rumour master" (Modi).

Recent surveys predicted a surge for BJP in the state and a drastic loss to JD(U) restricting it to single digit in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The Chief Minister reiterated that he along with his party would fight for the special category status for the state.

Several senior leaders including party president Sharad Yadav were present at the rally.

The JD(U) has planned to organise 12 such Sankalp rallies across the state to press for its demand of special category status and caution people against "divisive" forces led by BJP.