PATNA: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has rejected the RSS-VHP charge that the NDA government headed by him is pursuing a Muslim appeasement
policy.
"We believe in inclusive development and we are committed to developing every section of the society. In this process, the backward sections have been given special attention and there is nothing wrong in it," Kumar told media persons on Monday without naming the VHP or RSS.
He denied differences with the BJP on the issue of governance and said that the government was being run on a common minimum programme. Asked specifically about the allegations made by RSS leaders at their Rajgir meeting and VHP leader Pravin Togadia's remarks here on Sunday, he said, "In a democracy, everyone has the right to express his views and I don't need to enter into a debate with everyone."
Kumar also clarified that the Arabic and Persian University move was initiated years ago, and not by him. "My government only notified this university and made it a reality as there existed only a signboard earlier," he said.
The CM laughed off the allegations made by his political opponents that he was indulging in caste-based politics. "I am instead bringing all the castes and communities closer for the first time in Bihar and I will continue with my policies without any modification. It is for the people of Bihar to judge my performance and policies in the next Assembly elections," he said.
He said the government will make 10,000 fresh recruitments besides clearing the backlog of 3,000 vacancies in the police force. He has also ordered creation of a model police station.
Regarding land disputes, the CM said he has directed all the SPs to look into the police role in such disputes and find out whether the police had acted rightly or wrongly. Similarly, the DMs have been directed to monitor the performance of field officials in such matters.
Reacting to RJD chief Lalu Prasad's statement on bringing discipline in the party, Nitish quipped, "Lalu and discipline just cannot go together." On LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan's comment that the term `Mahadalit' is an abuse, Nitish retorted, "Those who do not want to see the development of the poorest of the poor are feeling uncomfortable.
policy.
"We believe in inclusive development and we are committed to developing every section of the society. In this process, the backward sections have been given special attention and there is nothing wrong in it," Kumar told media persons on Monday without naming the VHP or RSS.
He denied differences with the BJP on the issue of governance and said that the government was being run on a common minimum programme. Asked specifically about the allegations made by RSS leaders at their Rajgir meeting and VHP leader Pravin Togadia's remarks here on Sunday, he said, "In a democracy, everyone has the right to express his views and I don't need to enter into a debate with everyone."
The CM laughed off the allegations made by his political opponents that he was indulging in caste-based politics. "I am instead bringing all the castes and communities closer for the first time in Bihar and I will continue with my policies without any modification. It is for the people of Bihar to judge my performance and policies in the next Assembly elections," he said.
He said the government will make 10,000 fresh recruitments besides clearing the backlog of 3,000 vacancies in the police force. He has also ordered creation of a model police station.
Regarding land disputes, the CM said he has directed all the SPs to look into the police role in such disputes and find out whether the police had acted rightly or wrongly. Similarly, the DMs have been directed to monitor the performance of field officials in such matters.
Reacting to RJD chief Lalu Prasad's statement on bringing discipline in the party, Nitish quipped, "Lalu and discipline just cannot go together." On LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan's comment that the term `Mahadalit' is an abuse, Nitish retorted, "Those who do not want to see the development of the poorest of the poor are feeling uncomfortable.
Source: Times of India, October 13, 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment