Patna, June 18 (PTI): Chief minister Nitish Kumar today thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for describing him as secular, saying the words give him comfort.
“He (Singh) has spoken the truth and one should always speak the truth and coming from the Prime Minister of the country, certainly gives me comfort and I offer my heartiest thanks to him for saying so,” Nitish told reporters.
In signs that the Congress was warming up to the JD(U), the Prime Minister had yesterday described the Bihar chief minister as secular and said “in politics there are no permanent enemies or permanent friends”. “In politics, there are no permanent enemies or permanent friends. We will decide as the situation evolves,” Manmohan had said to a question whether Congress looks at the JD(U) as a future ally against the backdrop of the split in the NDA and would reach out to it.
Replying to a question on Nitish, Manmohan had said the JD(U) leader is secular. “I cannot speculate on that or what happens in the future. We need support of all right-minded parties. In Parliament, we look for their support,” Manmohan had said.
Reacting to the remarks of Manmohan, Nitish today said: “The Prime Minister only said the things which I am.”
Asked if it indicated the possibility of a tie-up with the Congress as the national party may support JD(U) in the confidence vote in Bihar Assembly tomorrow, Nitish said: “Kal kisne dekha hain (who has seen the future)? Many things lie in the womb of future.”
Nitish said: “The prevailing political situation in the country is clear. We were left with no other option and that is why we accepted this (breaking ties with BJP).”
Tacitly expressing his displeasure over the BJP choosing Narendra Modi to lead its campaigning for the 2014 polls, Nitish said: “We can sacrifice anything for the sake of principles. Our alliance with BJP was in the context of Bihar and on the basis of keeping away from controversial issues of the country. The situation has changed now.”
On the BJP observing “Viswasghat Divas” and calling Bihar bandh, he said: “When you break up from something, it initially leads to venting of anger. Keeping in view the long association, I'll try to have good relations with them (BJP). But political issues would be answered politically.”
