BJP hits back at Nitish for returning five crore rupees

New Delhi, June 19 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday hit back at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for returning Rs five crore to Gujarat and said the money was given to the State in a spirit of solidarity and sympathy towards victims.

Sitharaman said the money was sent to Bihar as the people of Gujarat felt grief and sympathy for the suffering endured by flood affected people.

"The money was received in the same spirit by Bihar in which it was given by Gujarat. I wonder if only the money is being returned or also the feeling of empathy, solidarity and spirit of togetherness is also being returned," Sitharaman said.

Earlier in the day, Nitish Kumar sent back five crore rupees donated by Gujarat Government to 2008 Kosi flood victims, expressing his displeasure over news paper advertisement which thanked Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for helping Bihar.

Nitish Kumar had termed this claim "uncivilised", saying any gesture of help should not be proclaimed publicly and returned the amount to Gujarat as 'unspent.' (ANI)