Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, October 19
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who had snapped ties with the BJP last year has full praise for its leaders on Thursday.
While speaking at the first convocation of the Mahatma Gandhi central university at Motihari, 250 kms from here, Nitish said his friendship with the BJP leaders was “lifelong”. President Droupadi Murmu was the chief guest at the function.
Nitish Kumar recalled his old association with the BJP leaders since 2005 when the first government in collaboration with BJP was formed under his leadership and assured. “Our friendship is lifelong. We cannot be separated (Aap log hamare saath hain, Hamari dosti kabhi nahi khatam hogi),” he said. He told the BJP leaders, “Do not worry, our friendship will continue till I am alive.”
He had full praise for the BJP government and recalled that the UPA government headed by Manmohan Singh had repeatedly ignored his demand for a central university. He had made the request to the then HRD minister in 2007 and 2009 and promised land too. But the Centre ignored his demand.
Things started materialising when the Narendra Modi led government came to power at the Centre in 2014. Central universities Act was passed and facilitated establishment of central universities in other states, except Bihar during UPA government. But the BJP led ministry in 2016 started the process for setting up a central university in Bihar. While the UPA government rejected his demand for one central university, the BJP led government approved two central universities at Gaya and Motihari, both historical places associated with Mahatma Gandhi and Gautam Budha, the chief minister said.
Nitish said the Bihar government has allotted 300 acres of land for the central university at Motihari. He repeatedly assured the BJP leaders, “Hum log Alag Nahi Hai. Hamari Dosti Kabhi Khatam nahi hogi (Our friendship will never end. We are not separate from each other).”
Reacting to the statement of Nitish Kumar, leader of opposition in Bihar Assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha welcomed and said the chief minister has now realised he did not gain much during his association with the promoters of Jungle Raj and now admitted development of Bihar during BJP regime.
This is for the first time since July last year that Nitish praised BJP leadership. Till recently he had been critical of its leaders in Bihar.
