Ready to back Nitish as PM candidate: Lalu

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The BJP hit back at Nitish’s call for an ‘RSS-free India’ by producing a picture of him attending an RSS function in 2006.

In May 2006, according to the BJP, Nitish attended the birth centenary function of Sangh ideologue M S Golwalkar in Patna and even praised Golwalkar as one of the leading thinkers at the programme. The party added that the Bihar CM had not only attended the RSS function, but also lit the ceremonial lamp before the portrait of Golwalkar, the second RSS chief.

“In line with centenary celebrations, a function was also organised at Patna on May 13, 2006. Nitish Kumar had stayed at the function for one-and-a-half hours. This is the same BJP and Sangh,” said senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, who had also attended the event.

He added that Nitish’s presence at an RSS function spoke a lot about “doublespeak of the person nursing national ambitions now…Nitish may well be vying with Lalu on who attacks Sangh the most now”.

“Nitish Kumar always believed in politics of political opportunism. Earlier, he needed BJP to become a Union minister and then Bihar CM, now he attacks the Sangh to pit all parties against the BJP to achieve his dream of becoming PM,” he said.

JD (U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, however, said: “We were in the NDA then, CM Nitish Kumar attended Golwalkar function as a matter of courtesy…Bihar has given us an overwhelming mandate against the BJP and we want to replicate this model at a national level. Unlike before, the BJP now has become a fascist organisation. Sangh never had control over AB Vajpayee, but it has a big influence on the present government at the Centre.”

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