Patna, July 23: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar today attended a seminar on “Islam in Indian culture: social unity and cultural bonding” in keeping with his efforts to remain acceptable to the minority community.

Earlier, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt had visited Bihar over the Forbesganj police firing issue and had challenged Nitish’s secular credentials. Nitish has so far refrained from directly speaking against Bhatt but has attended several functions organised for the cause of Muslims of late.

Though Nitish did not speak much during the celebrations of the centenary of Bihar Legislative Council, he said the topic chosen was appropriate. Akhtar-ul-Wasey, the director of Islamic Studies in Jamia Millia Islamia, was the main speaker on the occasion. Nitish presented him a memento and a Mithila painting.

Praising Bihar, Wasey said: “We also need to understand how Muslim education helps and guides them not only to face the problems of life but also to understand national unity. The first thing, which the Quran talks about, is humanity.” Nitish appreciated the speech and said it was the best ever speech he had ever heard on the topic.