Patna blasts: BJP accuses Nitish Kumar government of 'criminal negligence'

Patna: The BJP has accused the Nitish Kumar government of "criminal negligence," alleging that it had written to it asking for adequate security for Narendra Modi's Hunkar rally in Patna on Sunday. It has also blamed the Congress-led central government for the "security failure" that led to multiple blasts before the rally, killing six people and injuring many others.
(Patna blasts: two arrested, police suspects Indian Mujahideen)

The party's former party president Nitin Gadkari insinuated that the administration could have been deliberately lax on security. "Bihar government and the Centre have completely failed to maintain law and order. One of the reasons for the blasts could be to make sure that the rally is unsuccessful. The government may indirectly be a part it. The government should wake up now about increasing terrorism in Bihar."

His colleague and party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain tweeted this morning, "We had sent our concern regarding #HunkaarRally in writing to state government. Yet necessary arrangements were not made. This is criminal negligence."

He demanded a "proper investigation in a time-bound manner...including negligence on part of concerned officials."

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Hours after seven blasts ripped through Patna, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had denied that there were security lapses on part of his administration. He also said that he had no intelligence warning for the series of crude bomb blasts. (No intel warning, no security lapses: Nitish on Patna blasts)

Mr Kumar described the attacks as a black mark on Bihar's culture of tolerance and said that police officers and senior bureaucrats had told him that appropriate security arrangements were made for the rally held by Narendra Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate and Mr Kumar's political rival.

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He also said that senior BJP leader LK Advani and the Prime Minister had phoned him and that he assured them of a thorough and swift investigation by the Bihar police, assisted by experts from the National Investigating Agency.

On Sunday, a blast at the Patna railway station was followed by six at Gandhi Maidan, the large park where thousands had gathered to hear Mr Modi. The rally, designed by the BJP as a massive show of strength, was held as scheduled.

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Mr Kumar had split from the BJP in June this year because of its determination to pick Mr Modi to lead its election campaign. He alleged that Mr Modi is a divisive leader who does not have the confidence of Muslims after the Gujarat riots of 2002.