(From left) Former Tripura governor DN Sahay, chief minister Nitish Kumar and Bollywood actress Neetu Chandra at the felicitation programme at SK Memorial Hall in Patna on Sunday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Oct. 9: Chief minister Nitish Kumar today took a jibe at RJD chief Lalu Prasad without taking his name, saying he should stop talking and seek apology from the people of Bihar for “his misdeeds in the past”.

Nitish said this at a felicitation programme organised by Loknayak Jaya Prakash Narayan-Lal Bahadur Shastri Birth Anniversary Celebrations Committee at SK Memorial Hall today.

The chief minister’s comment came a day after Lalu accused Nitish of deceiving the people of the state in the name of development. The CM said: “Some people do not have patience and just keep on talking. I would ask him (read Lalu) to seek apology from the people of Bihar. He must repent for what he did in the past. He should promise that from now, he will think of the state’s improvement.”

The chief minister also ridiculed Lalu’s visit to the Bhai-Bahini temple in the Daraundha Assembly segment of Siwan district yesterday in an apparent bid to seek divine blessings ahead of the Daraonda by-poll.

“Tantra-Mantra se kuch nahi hota hai (Black Magic does not help anybody). He should rather get involved in some good work. He keeps on making comments against me. But I do not react because I have a lot of things to do for my state. Let him say anything he wants to, I will do my duty,” Nitish said.

Criticising Lalu’s idea of using a lathi for self-defence, Nitish said: “Applying oil on lathi will not help any more. The time has come to pour ink inside the pen.”

Citing the example of building smooth roads in the state, the CM said: “They say I have not made good roads in Bihar. But they are the same people who are enjoying good rides in their own cars. If I keep on reacting to their comments, my work will get hampered. I will better utilise my time in building roads, schools and hospitals.”

The function was organised to felicitate the chief minister for his contribution to put Bihar on fast track of development. Being present on the occasion, Bihar girl and Bollywood actress Neetu Chandra praised Nitish for bringing laurels to the state.

“Nitishji has done excellent work and almost changed the image of our state. Today we do not feel ashamed of being a Bihari. He has given an opportunity to the people of Bihar. Without his effort and hard work it was not possible for the state to achieve what it has,” Neetu said.