Patna:
The morning after he unsubscribed from his alliance with the BJP, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pointedly held his usual weekly "janta darbar" to address the concerns and complaints of the public.
He later held press conference, here are the highlights:
- I have never had any problems with any BJP leaders.
- We have worked well together at national and state level.
- Era of Atal ji and Advani ji in BJP is over.
- We decided to part ways as it was possible to work together anymore.
- Decision to split with the NDA was not taken in haste. It was decided after due consideration and taken at the right time.
- I called BJP leaders to decide a roadmap of the split. They did not come. By not coming for the meeting, BJP closed the door on talks.
- If anyone is talking about betrayal, then betrayal has been from the other side. Someone who betrays his own senior can't talk about being betrayed.
- We wanted to give them enough time to think about their leader but the situation become clear after Goa. What was going to happen was clearly written on the wall.
- On 2003 praise of Modi: I was Railway Minister then. I had to go for a lot of government events. At those events, you don't talk politics, you don't speak badly about your political rival. You are misinterpreting a government event as a political one.
- Our decision is based on the fact that whatever is happening in BJP has rendered the basis for our common agenda baseless.
- Atal ji is not well but Advani ji is active. One person could have addressed the concerns of the allies.
- George Fernandes is not well - he is bed-ridden, but I go to meet him. We respect our senior leaders.
- In 2009, his supporters made him contest the elections even though he wasn't well. We all pray for George Fernandes' health.
- People are under so much pressure that they shirk away from discussing the good work that has been done in Bihar.
- When I discuss that work, I am not making comparisons.
- They did not want to speak to us, what could we have done.
- If circumstances were such that we could not work together then we could have discussed a road map for separation.
- We had been together for 17 years, BJP leaders could have come to meet us. What harm would have come out of meeting us?
- I had told my people that I will accept suggestions by BJP on the roadmap for the split.
- We called a cabinet meeting and they did not come for that too - our hand was forced.
- This is a failure of the BJP. They should be attracting new allies not losing older allies.
- The BJP is responsible - alliances can't be based on compulsions.
- Bigger parties who want to form a govt at the Centre should worry about attracting newer allies.
- We have called a special session of the Bihar Assembly to prove our strength on the floor of the house