Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar addresses a news meet at his residence in Patna on Monday . Picture by Deepak Kumar and PTI

Patna, July 1: Nitish Kumar does not believe in one-man “Rambo-like” rescue missions. His is silent vocation.

Taking a swipe at his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi without naming him while appreciating the role of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre and Uttarakhand during last month’s deluge, Nitish said: “I am not a Rambo-like character to perform miracles. I have honestly and quietly done everything possible to rescue the people of Bihar affected by the tragedy in Uttarakhand,” the chief minister told reporters on the sidelines of his weekly janata durbar at his 1 Aney Marg residence today.

Modi’s supporters had claimed how he had rescued about 15,000 Gujaratis trapped in the floodwaters in the hills.

“I had several rounds of talks with my Uttarakhand counterpart, Vijay Bahuguna. I have done everything warranted upon me — from releasing funds to sending officials concerned to Uttarakhand to rescue the flood-hit people,” Nitish said.

In keeping with the stand of the Congress, his newfound friend following his split with the BJP, Nitish said: “Bayanbaji (war of words) should be avoided at the time of the tragedy of such a magnitude. It is reflective of a low standard politics. It is warranted upon the sensitive people of the country to stand behind the tragedy-struck people and pilgrims. They (affected people) need the help of society at large. But I cannot speak in the language some people are speaking in the context of the tragedy,” he said.

Referring to the BJP leaders carrying out virulent campaign against him after parting ways with the JD(U), Nitish said: “Some leaders are afflicted with chhapas ki bimari (ailment of publicity). They speak anything to get published. Let them do it. I cannot go beyond a level to counter them.”

Taking a jibe at his former deputy, Sushil Kumar Modi, Nitish said: “So strong is the attachment with the chair that some people have begun sitting on a dharna on a chair.” Sushil Kumar Modi sat on a chair through his dharna at Kargil Chowk on Friday to protest against the police firing at Bagaha that left six persons dead.

Nitish expressed his grief over the police firing on Tharu people at Bagaha. “A judicial commission based on the report of the additional director-general (headquarters) S.K. Bhardwaj and other officials have been constituted to investigate the firing incident. The next of kin of all the deceased persons and injured ones have been paid due compensation. A process is on to terminate the services of the guilty officers. We have adopted special initiative to improve the condition of the Tharu community members who are otherwise peace-loving people. The commission will probe the circumstances, which led them to get into frenzy.”

Asked what his party was doing to counter the BJP onslaught on him and his government, Nitish said: “The Dal does not do anything in reaction. We always act according to our own plans and programmes. The party has convened the meeting of its state executive on July 7 to decide on its future course of action.”

On cabinet expansion, he said: “It will happen in an appropriate time. I am within my right to choose the timing for the cabinet expansion. We have won the vote of confidence and the government is doing its work.”

Justifying his decision to part ways with the BJP, he said: “I have never been a victim of indecisiveness. I have taken the decision what I have thought appropriate without thinking much what will happen tomorrow. I live in the present.”

He refused to comment on Ranchi High Court’s order dismissing Lalu Prasad’s petition to transfer a fodder scam case from a CBI judge.