Nitish Kumar hits back at BJP, says ‘firecrackers will be burst in Amritsar, Mumbai’

Darbhanga: After BJP chief Amit Shah's 'firecracker in Pakistan' comment, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday returned the fire, saying Mumbai and Amritsar will witness "maximum fireworks" if BJP loses Bihar Assembly polls, alluding to its strains with allies in Maharashtra and Punjab.

"On victory of grand secular alliance crackers will not be burst not in Pakistan, but in India and maximum of it in Amritsar and Mumbai," Kumar said addressing an election rally at Bahera in Darbhanga district.

BJP's relations with NDA partners Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra have been dogged by differences from time to time.

Kumar's rejoinder followed BJP President Amit Shah's assertion last week that if BJP loses by any chance in Bihar firecrackers would be burst in Pakistan.

He alleged that Shah's assertion was aimed at "polarisation of votes on religious grounds". "The sinister plan (to polarise voters on religious line) will not succeed."

Kumar, who is the chief ministerial candidate of the grand alliance, also hit back at his bete noire Prime Minister Narendra Modi for scoffing at his meeting a 'tantrik' and referred to the prime minister's allegedly meeting an astrologer Bejan Daruwala.

"I met an aughad (occultist) without hiding from anybody in daylight ... But news reports showed Narendra Modi allegedly meeting astrologer Bejan Daruwala.

"You are talking a lot about jantar-mantar against me but what about meeting astrologer Bejan Daruwala ... Isn't it an example of double standards?" Kumar, who is the star campaigner for the grand alliance, said.

He also tore into the prime minister's jibe at him over one of his ministers being caught on camera accepting money.

Apparently referring to Union minister of state Giriraj Singh, Kumar asked, "Why was a person from whose home Rs two crore unaccounted money was found rewarded and made a minister?"