First quit NDA: Paswan to JDU

A day after the JDU tried to score political points over its Bihar rivals, by threatening that its MPs would quit over the anti-north Indian attacks in Maharashtra...

A day after the JDU tried to score political points over its Bihar rivals, by threatening that its MPs would quit over the anti-north Indian attacks in Maharashtra, Union Minister and LJP chief Ramvilas Paswan hit back by demanding that the JDU quit the NDA of which the Bal Thackeray-led Shiv Sena was a part. Paswan also dared Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to quit his post over the issue.

Terming the JDU threat a political stunt, Paswan said if the party was really serious then how was it continuing in the NDA where Bal Thackeray8212;8221;who has claimed responsibility for attacking north Indian students appearing for the railway exam8221;8212;is present. 8220;Why are they silent on Bal Thackeray? Why are they not demanding his arrest too? If they are serious then they should quit the NDA or get the Shiv Sena out of it,8221; Paswan declared. Paswan said that in its mouthpiece Saamna, the Shiv Sena had openly claimed responsibility for driving out north Indian students appearing for the railway exam.

Paswan said he too was ready to quit provided Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar did the same. 8220;Let8217;s all quit and come on the road and agitate. Why are they trying to fool the masses by getting its MPs to quit when only a couple of months are left for the polls? Is it not a political stunt?8221; the LJP chief questioned.

Paswan also attacked UP Chief Minister and rival Mayawati who had dared Lalu-Paswan to quit the UPA. The minister charged her of being hand in glove with the BJP by rejecting a CBI probe into the Kanpur bomb blasts in which Bajrang Dal activists were involved.

Talking about the Cabinet meeting, the Bihar leader said he continues to stick to his three demands8212;arrest of Raj Thackeray under NSA, judicial probe into the killing of the Patna youth and prosecution of the MNS chief in all the cases pending against him.

Asked whether he would resign if the demands were not met, Paswan refrained from a direct reply and said he had faith in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He welcomed Raj Thackeray8217;s statement of not obstructing the 8220;Chhath8221; festival in Mumbai and said may good sense prevail upon the MNS leader. 8220;He should stop this hate politics and work like a political leader.8221;