Cong led JD-U up the 'garden path' on special status: Jaitley

As Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar frowned at the Centre, the Bharatiya Janata Party ion Monday took a dig at him, saying he was led up the "garden path" by the Congress on the issue of special status and hinted that this had led to its split with the BJP.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said the assurance offered by the Congress to Kumar was more political than linked to the economic necessities of Bihar and the special status did not come once the Janata Dal-United was on its own after breaking up with the BJP.

"The United Progressive Alliance’s intention was to lead JD-U up the garden path hat the special category status to Bihar was indeed coming. I do not know how the astute leadership of JD-) fell for this," he wrote on his blog.

His statement came a day after Kumar staged a day-long protest in Patna against the Centre's failure to grant special category status to Bihar.

Hinting that the promise had prompted Kumar to part ways with the BJP, Jaitley said, "Coincidentally the signalling towards this special category status was also at the same time when the JD-U-BJP split took place."

Once the JD-U was on its own, the special category status did not come, the BJP leader said.

Taking a swipe, he said, "in the 'swayamvar' (process of choosing a life partner from among many) between Lalu Prasad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal and the JD-U, the Congress party preferred its old ally (RJD)."

Citing reports that Congress and JD-U may consider an alliance after the talks between the Congress and the RJD have somewhat stalemated, Jaitley said the formet has already double-crossed the latter on special category status.

The JD-U-BJP government in Bihar had repeatedly demanded the special category status and there is a near consesus on the issue among political parties in the state, he said.

He also appeared to support the similar demand from other states in eastern India like Odisha and West Bengal, saying they have not economically progressed in comparison to others and suffered from natural disadvantages.

The Biju Janata Dal and the Trinamool Congress have been pressing for special status for Odisha and West Bengal, respectively.