Date:10/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/10/stories/2008111060721200.htm

National

Not a drama: Nitish Kumar

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday criticised Union Ministers Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan for not pressuring the Centre to take stern action against the Maharashtra government for its failure to rein in divisive forces.

“Resignation of five JD(U) MPs over the issue of Bihar’s honour is not a drama as stated by Lalu and Paswan... In fact it’s a sincere effort to help the powerful Union Ministers from the State to put pressure on the Centre to act,” Mr. Kumar told reporters here.

Lalu blames Nitish

Mr. Prasad accused Mr. Kumar of breaching the unity of the all-party resolution to fight unitedly against forces like the MNS, a report from Sitamarhi said. Mr. Kumar unilaterally took the decision that his Lok Sabha MPs would resign, Mr. Prasad said. Though he had appealed that MPs and MLAs of all parties from both the Houses would resign, it could not happen because of the Bihar Chief Minister, he said. — PTI