Page 5 - Nitish Kumar

Only propaganda, demand for special status not fulfilled, Bihar CM

In a veiled jibe at the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar claimed that "prachar prasar" (propaganda) was going on with little on offer for the poorer states. Kumar, who snapped ties with the BJP two months ago, also lamented that the long-standing demand for special status to Bihar, which "all poor states should get", was not accepted. "Is anything worthwhile happening in poor states? Only propaganda is underway (Garib gurba rajyon mein kuchh ho raha hai? Jhuthe prachar prasar mein laga rahta hai)," said the septuagenarian on Thursday without taking any names. The longest-serving chief minister of Bihar, who has been pitching for a united opposition to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, was addressing a function at the CM's secretariat where he gave away letters of appointment to nearly 200 Urdu translators and stenographers. Kumar spoke at length about his government's efforts to uplift the weaker sections of the society, especiall

Nitish Kumar slams Centre for not according special status to Bihar

"Whenever we talk about special status, the Centre becomes silent," he said.

53 drown in Bihar during Chhath, CM announces ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh

As many as 53 people drowned in rivers and other water bodies in various parts of Bihar during the four-day Chhath festivities, said a disaster management official here on Tuesday. Expressing grief, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of the kin of each deceased, the official said. The CM directed all district magistrates to ensure expeditious payment to the victims' families. According to the official, five people drowned in Purnea district on October 30, while three deaths each were reported from Patna, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur and Saharsa. One person each died in Gaya, Begusarai, Katihar, Buxar, Kaimur, Sitamarhi and Banka among other districts. "At least 18 people died in the state on October 31, the last day of the festival. The state disaster management is trying to establish the identity of all deceased at the earliest," added the official.

Chirag enraged over Nitish's reference to his father's second marriage

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's reference to Ram Vilas Paswan's "second marriage in Delhi" evoked an angry outbust from the late leader's son and political heir Chirag Paswan on Tuesday. Kumar had muttered "biyahwa to dusra Dilli mein jaakar kiye the na" (married for the second time in Delhi) on the previous day in a sort of reflection on the Bihari roots of the father-son duo. He had also called Chirag a "bachcha" (kid). "It ill behoves the chief minister to make personal remarks about my father after his death," the young Jamui MP, born to his late father's second wife, said. "I have never stooped to this level. I have never spoken anything of the kind about Nitish Kumar who has not been transparent about his own personal life. My deceased father was like an open book," said Chirag who has been reaching out to his step-mother and step-sisters after being cornered by his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras. Chirag, who is in Bihar to campaign for BJP candidates in the upcoming by-poll

Nitish may not canvass for Bihar bypolls, Tejashwi to hit campaign trail

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said he might not campaign for the by-elections to a couple of assembly segments in the state where his current ally RJD is locked in a straight contest with former alliance partner BJP. Kumar, who is nursing injuries he sustained recently when his motorboat crashed into the pillar of a bridge on Ganga, said this in reply to questions from journalists who asked him about his schedule for Mokama and Gopalganj where by-polls are scheduled on November 3. "All my party colleagues are campaigning. I need to take precautions till I recover fully," said the JD(U) leader, who had disclosed his injury on Wednesday. The mishap had taken place on October 15 and the administration had said that all the occupants of the motorboat were safe. Speculations are rife that the RJD which seeks to retain Mokama and wrest Gopalganj from the BJP, is keen on Kumar lending his weight to its campaign for the two seats. Meanwhile, the BJP claimed that Kumar was

Injured Nitish Kumar ditches steamer, rides a car to inspect ghats

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday hit the road to inspect ghats along the river Ganges in the state capital which will be teeming with crowds for the next few days as part of Chhath festivities. Kumar ditched the steamer ride that he had been undertaking, so far, as the septuagenarian was recovering from bruises he received recently when his steamer had crashed into a pillar. This was revealed by the longest-serving chief minister of the state himself when, at one point, some curious journalists inquired about what appeared as a departure from his annual drill. Just have a look at my wound, said the 71-year-old chief minister, otherwise known to be a stickler for privacy and reserve, as he pulled up his kurta to reveal a gash on his belly. The CM said he had also hurt his leg and his abdomen bruise has caused him to avoid taking the front seat in his car which would require him to wear the seat belt. Notably, the administration had claimed that all occupants of the ..

Tejashwi rubbishes speculations about another volte face by Nitish

Speculations about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's return to the BJP-led NDA have received a thumbs down from his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, who asserted that the 'Mahagathbandhan' is going strong. Yadav, who is the heir apparent of the RJD, the largest constituent of the ruling coalition, also said that his party enjoyed the full support of alliance partners and looked forward to winning by-elections to two assembly seats Mokama and Gopalganj -- scheduled to be held next week. "It was decided by all coalition partners that we contest both seats. Mokama is our sitting seat while Gopalganj is my native district. We are confident of a Mahagathbandhan victory at both places," Yadav told reporters on Monday at Jehanabad, where he had gone to attend the death anniversary of a deceased party colleague. The by-poll at Mokama has been necessitated by disqualification of Anant Kumar Singh, who has been convicted in cases relating to arms and explosives recovered from his residences. His wif

Plans to open medical college, hospital in each district in Bihar: Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said that his government is planning to open at least one medical college and hospital in each district.The Chief Minister made this remark during the distribution of appointment letters to 9,469 selected health employees at the Bapu Sabhagar convention hall in Patna.The new employees, appointed by the state health society, include auxiliary nursing midwives (ANMs), health counsellors, senior treatment supervisors, health managers, district community promoters and others.He also laid the foundation stone of two new government medical colleges and hospitals at Buxar and Begusarai which will be built at cost of Rs 515 crore each.Along with this, the 'Mukhyamantri Digital Health Scheme' was also launched. Under this scheme, senior doctors and experts will see the patients at home and will also give suggestions.The Chief Minister also inaugurated 24 other projects of the health department, worth Rs 224 crore at the same event.Addressing the ...

PM Modi copying CM Nitish Kumar on jobs, says Bihar Dy CM Tejashwi

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Friday targeted PM Narendra Modi for copying Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on job promises

He talks 'rubbish': Nitish on PK's claim that he may ditch Mahagathbandhan

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday refused to comment on the claim made by political strategist Prashant Kishor that the former was still in touch with the BJP and said he keeps talking rubbish. The political strategist on Thursday claimed that Kumar is in touch with the BJP and he might once against tie up with the party if the situation demands. What should I say on this.he (Prashant) keeps talking rubbish. He makes such statements just for his publicity. Everybody knows that he is working for which party, Kumar remarked in reply to questions from journalists who sought his views on Kishor's claims that the CM is still in touch with the saffron party. Kishor had also told PTI on Wednesday that Kumar has kept a line of communication open with the BJP through JD (U) MP and Rajya Sabha deputy chairman, Harivansh. "After having snapped ties with the BJP, Nitish Kumar should have asked Harivansh to step down. If he insisted on occupying the post, he could have been expelled f

Nitish Kumar in touch with BJP, may join hands again: Prashant Kishor

Political strategist Prashant Kishor claimed on Wednesday that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is in touch with the BJP and that he may go for a tie-up with the party again if situation demands so, a suggestion dismissed by the JD(U) as misleading and aimed at spreading confusion. Kishor, who is on a padyatra in Bihar in what is widely seen as a precursor to his fresh entry into active politics, told PTI that Kumar has kept a line of communication open with the BJP through JD(U) MP and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Harivansh. Query sent to Harivansh for his reaction did not elicit any response but his party rejected the claim and asserted that Kumar will never join hands with the BJP again. Kishor said, "People who are thinking that Nitish Kumar is actively building a national alliance against the BJP will be surprised to know that he has kept a line open with the BJP. He is in touch with the BJP through his party MP and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Harivansh ji." He suggested

Tejashwi Yadav will soon become the Chief Minister of Bihar, says RJD MLA

Tejashwi Yadav became centrestage in the political premises after the Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) MLA Izhar Asfi claimed that Tejashwi Yadav soon will be the new CM of Bihar

Will work with 'samajwadis': Nitish Kumar vows never to ally with BJP again

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar vowed that he would never ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party again, and said that he will work for the progress of the country along with Bihar

Will never go with BJP again for entire life, Nitish Kumar asserts

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday asserted that he will not go with the BJP again for his entire life

Nitish slams Amit Shah, says 'he has no knowledge of our country's history'

Nitish Kumar has slammed Amit Shah and said that he does not have any knowledge about Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) movement or socialist leaders like Ram Manohar Lohia

His political career began just 20 yrs ago: Bihar CM's fresh salvo at Shah

Firing a fresh salvo at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday asserted that he attached no importance to barbs hurled by those whose political career began just 20 years ago. Kumar made the remark in response to queries from journalists about Shah's statement in Sitab Diyara, the ancestral village of Jayaprakash Narayan, that "disciples" of the socialist leader are now sitting in the "lap of Congress" for the sake of power. "The one whose name you people are taking, did he have any first-hand knowledge of what JP stood for? We had earned our spurs in the JP movement (of 1974). I do not want to attach any importance to those whose political career began just 20 years ago," said the JD(U) leader who had dumped the BJP two months ago. "But, yes, they have got a shot at power right now. And the media highlights them a lot. All English newspapers in Delhi have prominently carried his diatribe about me. But I could not care less," said Kumar, the ..

Bihar CM after changing sides 5 times: Amit Shah takes a jibe at Nitish

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a stinging attack on former BJP ally Nitish Kumar, referring to frequent change of coalition partners by the Bihar chief minister who has, nonetheless, held on to power. Shah was addressing a function on the occasion of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan's 120th birth anniversary, organised at this village in Saran district where the socialist leader was born. One who has changed sides as many as five times is the chief minister was the remark of Shah, who made many indirect references to the JD(U) leader and the latter's alliance with arch-rival Lalu Prasad's RJD, without mentioning either by name. Shah made the remark in an apparent reference to the chequered political journey of Kumar, who broke away with the Janata Dal to form Samata Party and tied up for a brief period with CPI(ML), before beginning a long partnership with the BJP which ended in 2013. He returned to the NDA in 2017 only to exit five years later. In his speech that .

CM Nitish Kumar loses temper after complaint over Bihar's health system

Miffed with the working style of doctors, an angry Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday scolded the Chief Secretary and directed him to rectify things immediately

'Nitish should resign, has grown indifferent towards EBCs who support PM'

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has grown indifferent towards Extremely Backward Classes who are, by and large, supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior BJP leader and former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi alleged. At a press conference here, Modi demanded the resignation of his ex-boss whom he squarely blamed for the adverse judgement of Patna High Court that declared as illegal quotas for OBCs and EBCs in urban local body polls, which has caused the election process to hang in balance. The state's Advocate General Lalit Kishor had through communications dated February 4 and March 12 advised the state government to set up a Commission to fulfil the Supreme Court's triple test criteria for such quotas. On March 22 and May 11, the State Election Commission also sought instructions from the government on the matter, claimed Modi. The triple test required the state government to set up a dedicated commission to gather data on the backwardness of OBCs in every local body, to ..

'Shameful': Prasad on Nitish's disapproval of CBI chargesheet against Lalu

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at Nitish Kumar on Sunday for defending his new ally, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, and his family members after the CBI filed a chargesheet against them, saying it is "shameful" and "unfortunate" how the Bihar chief minister has turned a blind eye to the issue of corruption. Addressing a press conference here, the former Union minister said Kumar is "compromising the core of his life's savings" by defending Lalu Prasad and his family members in the corruption case. The Bihar chief minister on Saturday voiced his disapproval of the CBI chargesheet against Lalu Prasad in a case pertaining to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief's tenure as the railway minister. "Nothing came of that case. Now that I am back in the alliance, a new thing has started. Is this the way? It seems they are acting upon whims and fancies," Kumar, who is now in the "Mahagathbandhan" comprising his JD(U), the RJD and the Congress, had said, indirectly referring to the allegation