Bihar polls: Ready to have a one-on-one debate with Modi on development, says Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday described as "non sense" the Prime Minister's allegation that 'grand alliance' was plotting to take away 5% share in reservations for "a particular community", saying it was the last-ditch effort to polarise votes on communal lines. Kumar also invited Modi for an open debate with him on development.

"Since NDA has not declared anybody as its leader in Bihar and contesting the poll in the name of PM, I am ready to have a one-on-one debate with him on development...Let's argue about Bihar model of development based on the principle of growth with justice with that of Gujarat model where maximum number of women are suffering from malnourishment and anaemia," Kumar said.

On reservation issue, Kumar said he was following the apex court's ruling.

"Reservation has been defined clearly by the Supreme Court which we are following earnestly...There is no fact in the PM's allegation of us plotting to take away 5 per cent reservation in SC, ST and OBC and give it to a particular community," Kumar told reporters in a strong riposte to the PM's accusation.

"Earlier, attempts in some states at giving reservation on the basis of religion were not allowed by the courts," the JD(U) leader said.

Kumar attributed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "wild" allegation as part of the strategy to win some votes on communal lines to be in the race in the Bihar elections which, he claimed, the NDA has already lost. Kumar addressed a press conference at JD(U) state headquarters to give a point-by-point rebuttal of PM's accusation against him during rallies yesterday and today.

He also trashed Modi's attack against him over meeting a 'tantrik' (occultist), promise made by him in regard to electricity and also PM's flouting his Extremely Backward Caste (EBC) root. Kumar, who is the face of grand secular alliance in Bihar, made fun of Modi and charged him with "changing his profile" in view of Bihar elections.

"Earlier he was addressed as 'vikashil PM', then BJP President Amit Shah presented him as first OBC prime minister and now he himself is presenting himself as an EBC PM," Kumar said.

"Pata nahin Gujarat me EBC hai ki nahin (I don't know if there is EBC category in Gujarat or not)?" he said sarcastically.

On the controversy surrounding his meeting a 'tantrik', who is heard in the audio clip uttering 'Lalu murdabad' on the basis of which PM called Kumar 'Lok-tantrik', the senior JD(U) leader sought to play down the episode and said on the request of his party Legislator Neeraj Kumar he went to meet the 'Aughar' (occultist) at his residence in Patna.

Moreover, the video clip based on recording made by a staff of the legislator is of 2014 and not a recent one as claimed, he said.

"Our alliance with the RJD and the Congress took place much after this meeting... besides I am nowhere shown speaking anything or agreeing to what the tantrik was speaking," he said.

"I am 'Astik' (believer of religion) and feel proud in visiting temple and religious places of other faiths...but about those who says 'Kasam Ram ki Khate hain mandir wahi baneyege par tarikh nahi batayenge' (We take a vow in name of lord Ram that temple would be built at the same place but would not reveal the date when it would be done)," Kumar said in order to turn the tables on BJP over Ayodhya issue.

On the PM mentioning a JD(U) minister caught on camera taking money and another JD(U) MLA also figuring in another sting, the Bihar CM "JD(U) took action immediately but about BJP leader from whose men nearly Rs 2 crore was seized?" Kumar was apparently referring to recovery of about Rs 2 crore at Patna which was alleged to be of now Union minister of state Giriraj Singh.

He also trashed PM's accusation of JD(U) voting against women reservation bill and said, "JD(U) had voted in its favour in Rajya Sabha when the Bill had come during time of Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda." Kumar accused Narendra Modi, who is star campaigner of NDA in Bihar poll, of "distorting" facts to attack rivals.

"He is heard asking people about by promise on electricity. I dare him to produce an audio cassettee where I am saying that if I fail to provide electricity in every household I will not come to seek vote in 2015," he said.

Kumar said while speaking at Independence day function in 2012 "I had said that if I fail to improve electricity condition I will not come to seek vote."

"Hasn't power condition improved. Bihar had power supply of 700 MW which has increased to nearly 3200 today," he said.

He alleged the Centre has substantially reduced fund allocation for popular schemes like MGNREGA, Indira Awas Yojna and Sarv Siksha Abhiyan launched by A B Vajpayee.

On PM mentioning BJP victory in Ladakh council to claim wind was blowing in favour of the party, Kumar asked him to also speak why poll for local bodies could not take place in his home state Gujarat due to law and order problem.