Patna, Aug 10: Senior BJP leader Sushil Modi on Wednesday accused Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Nitish Kumar of betraying his party and warned the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) that it too may get “betrayed” as well.
Addressing a press conference here, Modi said the JD-U had been an ally for 17 years and dismissed accusations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to break away JD-U MLAs.
“You were our ally. Even if we would have split, we wouldn’t have formed a government unless the whole of JD-U had joined us,” Modi said.
“BJP has never cheated anyone. We made Nitish Kumar the Bihar CM five times, the RJD made him CM twice. We have a relationship of 17 years, he broke it twice,” said Modi, who had served as the Deputy Chief Minister in the past.
He said it was he who had announced Nitish Kumar’s name as the Chief Ministerial candidate in 2005 even as JD-U leaders like George Fernandes were against it. Modi said the 2020 mandate in Bihar was a mandate for Narendra Modi and not for Nitish Kumar.
“This is not just the betrayal of Narendra Modi but the betrayal of the people of Bihar. In 2020, you got votes in the name of Narendra Modi. If the votes were in your support you would not have been limited to 45 seats,” he said.
He said the socially backward classes in Bihar were supporting Narendra Modi.
He also questioned if the JD-U was trying to break the RJD and said Tejashwi Yadav had corruption charges against him.
“Last time when you snapped ties with RJD, you said I am breaking alliance because of corruption. Your Deputy CM (Tejashwi Yadav) is chargesheeted in corruption, he is on bail. He can be sent to jail,” said Modi.
“Trial has started, there is evidence against him, the trial can even result in him going to jail. What is your intention? Do you want to break the RJD? Is this your conspiracy to break RJD and continue being CM? Laluji is unwell, his son can go to jail any day.”
“He can betray the RJD as well, RJD leaders should remain alert.” the BJP leader added.
Modi also alleged that Nitish Kumar wanted to be the Vice Presidential candidate and had sent feelers to the BJP.
“His people told us to make Nitishji the Vice President… This might also be a reason,” said Modi.
Modi added that Tejashwi Yadav, whose RJD has 79 MLAs compared to 45 of the JD-U, will be the real Chief Minister while Nitish Kumar would be a rubber stamp.
