Patna: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked him on the quota issue, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday hit back accusing the Indian premier of brazenly using "divisive language" and warned he may "lose" India in his "desperation" to win the "losing battle" of Bihar.
"Astonished at Modiji's brazen use of divisive language. In his desperation to win the losing battle of Bihar, I am afraid he might lose India," Kumar said in a tweet.
Though the Bihar CM did not elaborate, his response came after PM Modi launched a stinging attack on him in his two rallies in which he said that the Janata Dal (United) leader in a speech in Parliament on August 24, 2005 had spoken about giving quota to a particular community, a reference to Muslims.
"Nitish had made his intentions clear way back on August 24, 2005. They lost cool when I alleged that they want to steal away 5 per cent of reservation from the quota given to SCs/STs/OBCs and EBCs and give to a particular community," PM Modi said on Friday at an election rally in Gopalganj.
Moreover, BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday said firecrackers would be burst in celebration in Pakistan if the grand alliance – and not the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance – formed the next government in Bihar.
"If the Bharatiya Janata Party is defeated in the Bihar assembly polls and does not form a government, firecrackers will be burst in Pakistan," Shah said at an election rally in Raxaul.
Ruling Janata Dal-United spokesperson K C Tyagi condemned Amit Shah's statement and said the party would complain to the Election Commission on Friday.
The BJP president said jailed criminal-turned-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin would benefit the most if a government led by Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad came to power in Bihar.
Shahabuddin, a former parliamentarian, is currently lodged in central Bhagalpur jail.
"Time has come for the people of Bihar to get rid of the jungle raj," Shah said.
He said the NDA would form a government committed to the development of the state. "Only a BJP government can develop Bihar," Shah said.