Bihar chief minister and Janata Dal United (JDU) leader Nitish Kumar on Wednesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his silence on Manipur violence and called for his statement on it.
He justified the Opposition’s move of bringing a no-confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha.
“The entire Opposition is asking for a statement from the government on Manipur violence, seeking a reply again and again on it, but they are not telling anything. They all are just staying invisible,” Nitish said.
“They should pay attention to whatever is happening in Manipur. The way people have behaved with women there, the way they were disrobed... how is it possible? The Opposition is united on the issue, but they (the central government) are not speaking anything on it. This why we have decided to bring a no-confidence motion,” he added.
Nitish was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a state function to commemorate the Kargil Victory Day in Patna.
Speaking further on the occasion, Nitish asserted that Modi and the BJP were afraid of the INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), hence equating it with the East India Company, Indian Mujahideen and the Popular Front of India (PFI).
The chief minister said: “See how insecure he (Modi) has become. So many partners have joined the Opposition alliance that he is worried. He is speaking whatever is coming to his mind in anxiety.
“Why is he perturbed over the name (INDIA)? See how he is conducting meetings of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). He did not conduct any meeting in the last nine years, but is doing so now after our alliance took shape.”
Nitish initiated the efforts for a broad-based Opposition unity soon after quitting the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in August 2022 to form a Grand Alliance government in Bihar, with the intention to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls across the country.
He met the leaders of all prominent Opposition parties and it culminated in their meeting at Patna on June 23.
It was followed up with another meeting chaired by the Congress in Bangalore onJuly 18 in which 26 parties participated.
“The Opposition alliance has been given a name. The meetings will continue. We will now decide on other things. I have suggested a quick decision on every aspect of the alliance, including who will contest from where. We will frame its policy. Everything pertaining to the areas of our work will be decided,” Nitish said.
The JDU leader said since so many Opposition parties have come together, they will now stop the people who want to change the history of the country, who have nothing to do with Mahatma Gandhi, and who did not participate in the freedom movement.
“Our aim is to work for the welfare of the people and ensure there is no dispute among them. There should be an amicable atmosphere all around,” Nitish added.
