Ahead of Narendra Modi’s visit to Bihar to meet families of those who died in the Patna serial blasts, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of vitiating the climate of harmony in the State.
“Bihar is a land of goodwill. Everyone knows attempts are being made to disrupt this harmony. We have been watching this for the past few months. I am certain that the people of Bihar will maintain communal and social harmony and stick to the path of development. The people would not want to return to the cauldron of tension. Every attempt to play politics of strife will be unsuccessful,” Mr. Kumar said in response to a question on the BJP’s ‘asthi-kalash’ (last rites) yatra.
On Saturday, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate will visit the families of all the six who died in Patna, Kaimur, Gopalganj, Supaul, Begusarai and Nalanda districts.
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Countering Mr. Kumar’s claims, BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan said the criticism of Mr. Modi’s humanitarian step is an example of the government’s insensitivity.
Accusing Mr. Kumar of playing vote bank politics, he alleged that the Bihar government was more bothered about the Indian Mujahideen than Indians.
Former deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Modi tweeted that Mr. Modi had not uttered a single word that incited tension.
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