A blessing PM spends some time in India: Nitish

It is a blessing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "spends some time in the country also", Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Wednesday.

"What can be said of the prime minister? He goes to foreign countries. It's a blessing that he spends some time in the country also," Kumar told reporters on the sidelines of a function marking the installation of a statue of former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar in Patna.

Kumar criticised Modi over his Bihar visit later this month, where he is expected to kick-start BJP's campaign for the coming assembly elections.

"He is remembering Bihar after 14-15 months of coming to power. It is to be seen what kind of package the prime minister announces for the state when he comes here or just does some packaging," Kumar said.

The chief minister pointed out that he and his officials have already submitted all papers regarding the needs and demands of the state and Modi's visit would reveal whether he accepts the suggestions for the welfare of the people or just did "packaging of schemes" that were already going on in various departments.

Kumar said people have made Modi the "Malik-Mukhtar" (ruler) and his wishes would prevail till he was the Prime Minister, but the people of Bihar would not be misled again.

The chief minister attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party over its claims of transparency and uprightness and accused the party of not fulfilling the promises it made to the people.

"The BJP claimed there was no scam during the first year of its governance at the Centre, but now new scams are coming to light almost everyday. Scam doesn't just mean swindling money. It also means not governing as per the law of the land," he said.

Kumar also raked up the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and former IPL governor Lalit Modi controversy and said those ruling the country should abide by the law.

"The external affairs minister of the country helps a fugitive and claims it was done for the sake of humanity. This cannot be an excuse. This is a very serious matter. What is the method of governance? Will you help anybody and everybody who is close to you," he questioned.

The Bihar chief minister said the relations of Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje and Lalit Modi were not new and the entire world knows how both were close when she came to power for the first time.

"Lalit Modi had a big stature in the Rajasthan government at that time. Political persons should always consider their behaviour. BJP is a party which preaches others, blames them, but commits acts which are indefensible," Kumar said.

He was quick to add that he had personal respect for Swaraj and Raje, but the question was not of individuals, rather it was about the party and its method of working.

"See the way the BJP is working in Bihar and the kind of people it is bringing to its fold. This party says one thing and does something else. It fixes one standard for others and has a different one for itself. Its veil has been completely removed now," Kumar said.

Reacting to Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh's suggestions to remove the word 'adhinayak' from the national anthem, he said the real agenda of BJP was to "unsettle the settled things."

"The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which is the root organisation of the BJP, was formed in 1925 and did not take part in the freedom movement. They do not know its value nor do they have any concern. They want to change the history and write a new story on the basis of myths," Kumar said.

He said the BJP and the RSS encouraged orthodoxy instead of promoting scientific temperament. The Bihar CM poked fun at BJP president Amit Shah and suggested him to practice yoga daily at home.

"When the PM was doing yoga (postures) in Delhi, Shah was doing 'kursi (chair) asana' in Patna. It was no yoga at all, but it shows that the BJP is a party of people who will do all kind of circus for gaining 'kursi' or power," he said.

Expressing concern over the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, Kumar said such a thing has never happened before. There was an air of doubt and suspense among the people, yet the Centre was silent on the matter.

"Even Union Minister Uma Bharti has expressed her concern, which means the scam was happening for a long time. The doubt and suspense should be removed. The Centre should not keep silent over it. The entire conspiracy should be brought to light through an independent inquiry," Kumar added.