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Why Nitish had to bow before Raj Thackeray, asks Lalu

April 16, 2012 18:16 IST

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad on Monday questioned Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's intention to "bow" before Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray to attend Bihar Diwas celebrations in Mumbai on Sunday.

"There was no need for an elected chief minister of Bihar to bow before an unelected person and agree to visit Mumbai on condition set by Raj Thackeray. Nitish Kumar has not only hurt but humiliated all of us Biharis," Lalu told meidapersons in Patna.

Lalu was also angry over Nitish Kumar's slogan of 'Jai Maharashtra' before saying 'Jai Bihar' at the Bihar Day celeberations. "Nitish has compromised with the prestige and sentiments of Bihar to keep Raj Thackeray happy," the former chief minister said.

Lalu said that never before a Bihar CM did to take clearance from a leader like Raj Thackeray. "Nitish first used his party legislator Devesh Chandra Thakur to visit Raj Thackeray to pacify him and subsequently had telephonic talk with him. Only after that Raj announced that Nitish Kumar is welcome in Mumbai and address the Bihar Diwas function," Lalu said.

"Nitish conceded to all the conditions put by Raj Thackeray," Lalu said.

Other than Lalu, Lok Janshakti Party chief Ramvilas Paswan also criticized Nitish Kumar for kneeling down before Thackeray for visiting Mumbai.

M I Khan in Patna