NDTV Correspondent, Updated: June 12, 2010 18:27 IST, New Delhi
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has cancelled a dinner he was hosting in a few hours from now for the BJP's national executive at his residence in Patna. He is furious about an advertisement that shows him holding hands with Gujarat Chief minister Narendra Modi.
The advertisement has appeared in several newspapers, as Narendra Modi visits the state for the first time after Nitish Kumar became Chief Minister to attend the BJP's national executive.
When asked about the reason behind dinner being cancelled, Nitish Kumar said, "Chodiye naa..." He tried to avoid cameras.
Modi and Nitish were suppose to come face- to-face at a dinner hosted by Nitish at the chief minister's residence, fueling speculation that Nitish does not want to be seen with Modi on a public or political platform.
The controversy started when the BJP's two-day national executive kicked off in Patna today. One advertisement showed welcoming Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to Bihar, and also shows Modi and Nitish holding hands. The advertisement has upset Nitish Kumar, who is not too happy about being shown to be so close to Modi, since it might upset his Muslim votebank. He has said his photograph has been used without his permission and he could even take legal action.
Commenting on the incident, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, "If my photograph has been used in the advertisement. I have no information on it, my office does not know about it, no consent has been taken for it. So whatever legal action is possible we will take."
It's not the first time Nitish Kumar has expressed his discomfort about sharing a platform with the Gujarat Chief Minister. Just before the general elections, Nitish had said there was no need for Modi to campaign in Bihar, but just days later the two shared the dais at a rally in Ludhiana. (Read: The tale of two chief ministers -- Modi blitz on Nitish land)
Election in Bihar is just months away and just in case the BJP uses Modi for campaigning, it may not go down well with its ally the JD(U) that's trying to consolidate the 15 per cent Muslim vote in its favour.
All senior party leaders arrived in the city for the brainstorming meet where they will discuss the strategy for the forthcoming Assembly polls in Bihar.
Even a person like Nitish Kumar, who can confidently go to the electorate on the basis of his track record in the matter of peace and progress he brought about during his rule, needs to particularly appease the Muslims. To what level has India fallen that an advertisement showing an actual photograph of Modi and Nitish Kumar holding hands has become taboo so that Muslims are not hurt? Indian secularism has become bizarre.
http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/advertisement-shows-nitish-modi-holding-hands-31284.php
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