Lalu Prasad Yadav, Nitish Kumar destroyed Lohia legacy: Arun Jaitley

Jaitley rejected Nitish’s call for a debate on development, citing a World Bank report ranking Bihar 21st on ease of doing business.

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“The Bihar election is not about arithmetic but the changed chemistry… on the ground,” says Arun Jaitley.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley accused Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Thursday of “destroying” Ram Manohar Lohia’s legacy.

He was speaking at a function, coinciding with the PM’s birthday, to launch BJP’s youth wing the BJYM’s Panch Kranti Abhiyan that seeks to promote five government schemes. Jaitley highlighted contradictions in the JD(U)-RJD-Congress alliance in Bihar.

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“Laluji has said it’s time for Mandal 2 but Rajiv Gandhi was the harshest critic of Mandal raj. Nitish had agitated against Lalu’s jungle raj… but is now carrying him on his shoulders. Those who do politics in the name of Lohia are now visiting the AICC for press conferences. The legacy of Dr Lohia has been destroyed by these people,” he said.

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“The Bihar election is not about arithmetic but the changed chemistry in which the BJP will surge ahead. This happened in the Lok Sabha election and will be repeated… The chemistry on the ground has changed.”

He rejected Nitish’s call for a debate on development, citing a World Bank report ranking Bihar 21st on ease of doing business. “Nitishji says let us debate on development. What is there to debate?… Gujarat is number 1 and Bihar stands at 21. The economy speaks through statistics, not debate.”

Liz Mathew

Have been in journalism covering national politics for 23 years. Have covered six consecutive Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls in almost all the states. Currently writes on ruling BJP. Always loves to understand what's cooking in the national politics (And ventures into the act only in kitchen at home). ... Read More

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