Chief minister Nitish Kumar during the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the AIIMS-Digha elevated road on Friday. Picture by Deepak Kumar n See P7

Patna, Nov. 1: The hunkar (roar) of the BJP’s Patna rally has injected anger in Bihar’s political scene, as the war of words between Nitish Kumar and the BJP seems to be hotting up.

Till the rally, chief minister Nitish Kumar hardly mentioned the BJP, unless prodded by journalists at his janata durbar. In fact, he often refused to take questions on Modi. But the Hunkar Rally changed all that. After a point-by-point rebuttal of Modi at the JD(U)’s Rajgir conclave, Nitish even dubbed Modi as “Hitler”.

And, even before Modi sets foot in Patna again on Friday (his second visit within a week), Nitish has alleged there was an attempt to communalise and vitiate the atmosphere in Bihar. “This is known to everyone. But, Bihar is a land of communal harmony. I have confidence the people of Bihar will remain united and maintain communal harmony, allowing development to remain on track,” he said of the BJP’s Kalash Yatra to villages of party supporters killed in the Gandhi Maidan blasts. He did not name Modi, though.

Ever since the BJP announced Narendra Modi’s second visit to Bihar to visit the homes of blast victims and hand them a cheque of Rs 5 lakh each, JD(U) leaders have been accusing the BJP of trying to “spread hatred in Bihar”. Agriculture minister Narendra Singh repeated the words AICC chief Sonia Gandhi had once used for Narendra Modi — “Maut Ka Saudagar”. Bhim Singh, whom the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate targeted for his remarks on soldiers killed in Kashmir, alleged that the BJP was planning to trigger communal riots in Bihar.

The BJP has not lagged behind. The party’s national general secretary, Dharmendra Pradhan, dubbed Nitish a “coward” without naming him. Pradhan said: “We did not expect anything more from a coward. He did not go to Chhapra where children died after a midday meal, or visit victims of the Bagaha firing, or meet victims of the Khagaria train accident. He is insensitive and cares for just his vote bank. He cares more for Indian Mujahideen than for Indians.”

BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi mocked at the FIR lodged by the police in connection with the Patna blasts. “The FIR says the GRP, after recovering bombs from the posesssion of Imtiyaz, asked for legal documents for the bombs. Does the Bihar government issue licenses for bombs,” Modi asked, questioning the state government’s seriousness in the blasts probe.

Narendra Modi’s second visit within a week has set alarm bells ringing in the JD(U). “It is clear that Narendra Modi is serious about Bihar and will keep making frequent visits and verbal attacks on the JD(U) and Nitish Kumar till the Lok Sabha polls in 2014. The problem is Nitish does not have a spokesperson who can match Modi’s verbal onslaughts. Nitish will have to personally counter Modi. It will be a straight fight between Nitish and Modi in Bihar,” said a JD(U) MLA.

Already, a few JD(U) MLAs and leaders have openly declared their admiration for Modi as a “big leader” who cannot be underestimated. JD(U) leaders feel if the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate draws large crowds in other places of Bihar it will only increase rumblings in the party.

Modi will be driven to Goria Chuk around 7am on Saturday and then taken by helicopter to Kaimur, Gopalganj, Supaul, Begusarai and Nalanda. He would return to Patna at 4 pm and fly off at 4.14 pm.