Page 2 - Nitish Kumar

Concept of 'Hindu Rashtra' against Mahatma Gandhi's ideals: Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday frowned upon the Sangh Parivar's concept of India as a Hindu nation, underscoring that this militated against what Mahatma Gandhi stood for. The veteran socialist leader, who ended his long alliance with the BJP last year, was responding to queries from journalists about the Hindu rashtra clamour, which was openly endorsed earlier this week by his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath. We must not listen to anything that goes against what Bapu stood for. In this country, people of all religions live together. Bapu stood for unity and this was the reason for his assassination, said Kumar, who draws inspiration from the Mahatma's views in formulating his ideas of governance. The chief minister also warned that any deviation from Gandhi's insistence on secularism could lead to perversions (jo isse kuchh alag karna chahta hai, vo ulta pulta karna chahta hai). A product of the Bihar movement of 1974, Kumar had aligned with the BJP way back

Nitish Kumar: The one-man army with a strong focus on Opposition unity

He may have named Tejashwi Yadav as his deputy in government. But he has not announced a successor in the JD(U). Hopefuls like Upendra Kushwaha are voicing their displeasure

Nitish Kumar working on someone else's behest: Upendra Kushwaha

Notably, Upendra Kushwaha has convened two days open session of his supporter in Patna on February 19-20 to discuss the prevailing situation in JDU

JD(U) suffered after allying with BJP in 2017, says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday asserted that the JD(U)'s realignment with the BJP half a decade ago, which came to an abrupt end last year, had been to the detriment of his party. The JD(U) leader was replying to queries from journalists in Banka district, which he visited as part of the Samadhan Yatra' mass outreach programme. He was asked about the open letter to the party cadre from disgruntled parliamentary board chief Upendra Kushwaha, who has convened a two-day meeting next week to discuss the gradual erosion of support base of the JD(U) and anxieties over a rumoured deal with the RJD, its current ally. A visibly peeved Kumar sought to remind Kushwaha that the latter has been always rewarded by the party despite having ditched it repeatedly and if he keeps airing his grievances in public then it will be construed as he has other plans for himself. When asked whether he thought Kushwaha was forcing his hand at the BJP's behest, Kumar replied cryptically, You can d

Nitish should stop making people of Bihar suffer: Ravi Shankar Prasad

"The people of Bihar have decided to vote for BJP, and riding on that we will win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and 2025 Vidhan Sabha elections by big margins," he added

Would rather die than forming alliance with BJP, says Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday asserted that he would choose death over any alliance with BJP its former ally

I will rather die than join hands with BJP again, says Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday ruled out the possibility of a realignment with the BJP, asserting that he will "rather die than join hands" with his former ally. The JD(U) leader also reminded the saffron party that while in alliance it used to get votes of all his supporters, including Muslims who have always been "wary" of the BJP's Hindutva ideology. He also scoffed at the BJP's claim that it would win 36 out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state next year. Kumar reiterated that his return to the NDA in 2017, following "baseless" corruption cases against his deputy Tejashwi Yadav and the latter's father Lalu Prasad, was a "mistake".

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Nitish asks Upendra Kushwaha to quit amid rumors of being in touch with BJP

Kushwaha retorted saying that he could not leave the party without his share in the 'paternal property'

Ganga water scheme to soon meet drinking water needs in Nawada: Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday said that his government, under its Ganga Water Supply Scheme (GWSS), will soon provide treated flood waters to households of Nawada district. Talking to reporters here, during his ongoing 'Samadhan Yatra', Kumar said the project will meet the drinking water needs of the district. "Work to provide treated flood waters of river Ganga to households in Nawada district is underway on a war footing. It will be completed in the next few months. People of Nawada will soon get sacred Ganga water at home," he underlined. Notably, the CM had launched the scheme, worth Rs 4,175 crore, in Gaya and Rajgir in November last year. The scheme was approved in a special cabinet meeting held in Gaya in December 2019.

Akhilesh Yadav lauds Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on initiating caste survey

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday lauded Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for initiating the caste survey saying that the British too had thought in 1931 about the move, which alone could ensure the development of all castes. Talking to reporters at Janeshwar Mishra Park, named after the party member and former MP, Yadav said, "The caste survey is not made today. The British had thought that a caste survey should be done in 1931. The rights of the constitution can be given to different castes and communities only when their count is known." "I appreciate and congratulate Bihar Chief Minister for this," he said, after paying his tributes to Mishra. He said that his party has been demanding such a survey for long, and that he too had during his election rallies promised to initiate it within three months of formation of government. About his recent Telengana visit, Yadav said he had gone there at the invitation of Telangana Chief Minister, who had invited several other

Steps being taken for sustainable devpt of fisheries sector in Bihar: CM

Interacting with reporters during his Sadbhavna Yatra in Kulharia block in Bhojpur district, he said Bihar is working towards achieving self-sufficiency in fish cultivation

No more Deputy CM, new faces likely from RJD, Congress: Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar categorically ruled out the possibility of appointing another deputy, other than Tejashwi Yadav, ending speculations that a top leader of his JD(U) was being considered for the job. New faces may, however, be inducted in the council of ministers from the allies RJD and the Congress, he told reporters during his visit to Madhubani on Wednesday as part of his 'Samadhan Yatra'. "We are a seven-party coalition and each constituent has a fixed share. Those whose ministers vacated posts may be accommodated accordingly. We may have some more from the Congress as well," Kumar said. Two ministers from the RJD quota - Sudhakar Singh and Kartik Kumar resigned within a couple of months of the formation of the Grand Alliance government in August last year. Moreover, the Congress, which has been given two berths, has been seeking a representation commensurate with its numerical strength in the assembly. The Congress has 19 MLAs in the 243-strong assembly. The R

Bihar CM Nitish likely to expand his Cabinet after Makar Sankranti

Kushwaha's name as a deputy CM may not be accepted by RJD and is being seen as a reason for souring of relations between the RJD and JD(U)

Trying to set up one engineering, medical college in all districts: Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said the 'Mahagathbandhan' government is trying to set up at least one medical college and hospital in every district and "working tirelessly" to augment health infrastructure so that people do not have to go outside the state for better treatment. Efforts are also underway to ensure that each district gets at least one engineering college, he said. While interacting with media persons during his 'Samadhan Yatra' in Saran district, the CM said, To ensure that the people get the best medical facilities, the government is working tirelessly to augment health infrastructure in the state. "Efforts are being made to boost the sector so that the people need not go outside the state for treatment. We are planning to have at least one medical college and hospital in every district to make sure that medical education and facilities remain in reach of everyone," he said. The government's aim is that the boys and girls of Bihar do not need to go ...

BJP accuses Nitish of making indecent remark at function attended by women

The BJP in Bihar on Sunday hit the roof over what it considered to be an "indecent remark" made by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during his speech on population growth, at a programme attended by a large number of women. Kumar had on Saturday visited Vaishali district, along with cabinet colleagues including his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, on the third day of his state-wide 'Samadhan Yatra', aimed at assessing the status of ongoing welfare programmes and pending works. While interacting with self-help group volunteers, Kumar had spoken about the role played by educated, empowered women in controlling population growth. The JD(U) leader, who has been opposed to the BJP's pitch for a population control law, much to the annoyance of the former alliance partner, also hinted that men often did not show the same sense of responsibility as their wives in controlling population. A small video clip of Kumar's speech has gone viral in which the CM could be heard as having said "the men are often ..

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Govt fully prepared to conduct caste census, says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said that the government is fully prepared to conduct caste-based census in the state.

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RJD MLA's remark against Bihar CM unacceptable, says Tejashwi Yadav

Taking strong exception to RJD MLA Sudhakar Singh's objectionable remarks against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, party leader and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav said the comment was "unacceptable" and tantamount to supporting the BJP. The matter has been brought to the notice of RJD president Lalu Prasad, Yadav said. Interacting with reporters on Monday, Singh, the former agriculture minister, compared Kumar to Shikhandi -- a eunuch character in Mahabharata -- and said he has no standing of his own. "Making such comments against the person who is leading the Grand Alliance government in Bihar is simply supporting the BJP and its policies. Whatever he has said about the CM is highly objectionable," Yadav told reporters on Tuesday. When asked whether the party would take disciplinary action against Singh, he said, "The matter is serious. That is why it has been brought to the notice of the party supremo." Party leaders are advised to desist from making such statements, Yadav said. Si