Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday praised each other at the conclusion of Prakash Parv, a week-long festival held to mark the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh.
Addressing Sikh devotees at the Gandhi Maidan, Mr. Modi praised Mr. Nitish Kumar for making the grand event a success and for imposing prohibition in Bihar. “It’s very tough to make changes in society. [Nitish Kumar] has taken up the issue of prohibition in Bihar to save future generations. I heartily congratulate him for this and also appeal to all political parties, people of Bihar and all those working for society to support his prohibition campaign,” the Prime Minister said.
Mr. Modi also said: “I’ve come to know that Nitishji has been personally taking care of the arrangements for the Prakash Parv celebrations. I congratulate him, the State government and the people of Bihar for making this grand event successful.” Bihar, he said, “will play a major role in the development of the country in future.”
In his speech, Mr. Kumar too had praised Mr. Modi for effectively implementing prohibition in Gujarat when he was the Chief Minister.
“Our Prime Minister was Chief Minister of Gujarat for 12 years and he had implemented prohibition effectively there. I appeal to all other States too to put a ban on liquor for the development of the country,” said Mr. Kumar, who had surprised the Opposition by supporting the demonetisation move of Mr. Modi.
On the apparent bonhomie between the two leaders, till recently arch rivals, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad remarked: “Modi praised Nitish Kumar because he is the head of the State. And why should he not praise him when such great arrangements were made for the event?”
Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, however, said: “Politics is the game of possibilities. Nitish Kumar was with the BJP for 17 years before forming an alliance with Lalu Yadav. What is the guarantee he will not come back to the BJP again?” Both these leaders were present at the event.
