Patna: Former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday accused chief minister Nitish Kumar of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds over communal tension in the state.

Manjhi said Nitish's statement of not compromising with those causing social strife was just a show.

"There is a famous idiom which suits Nitish babuji: Gud khaye gulgule se parhez (eats jaggery but avoids food made of jaggery). He wants to do two things together.

"Today he takes pride for implementing prohibition, sending more than one lakh people in jail. He is the same Nitish who opened liquor shops in every nook and corner of the state," Manjhi said.

"Today, when he has realised that communal tension may erupt, he is issuing statements that he will not compromise with separatist forces.

"He just trying to do damage control to deflect people's attention. Earlier also he was with separatist forces, and today too." Manjhi alleged that Nitish was issuing such statements to send a message to the people so that they exonerate him of his sins.

Manjhi also alleged that the two Union ministers - Giriraj Singh and Ashwini Kumar Choubey, accused of fomenting tension in Darbhanga and Bhagalpur respectively - have the moral support of both the state and the Centre and that no action would be taken against any of them.

The HAMS leader, who has recently ditched the NDA to join the RJD camp, said that Giriraj issued provocative statements on the instruction of the BJP central leadership.

Manjhi urged the people of Bihar not to fall prey to the provocative speeches of the BJP leaders or any other person.

He also urged the top leadership of the BJP to ask Giriraj and Ashwini Choubey not to disturb communal harmony at the time of Ram Navami.

Giriraj has not denied raising slogans against a police officer in Darbhanga over a murder that a section of the BJP leadership claims was over the victim naming a chowk after the Prime Minister. Choubey, on the other hand, has alleged he and his son are being framed.