Don't teach us nationalism, Nitish tells BJP in Varanasi

Varanasi, May 12: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday slammed the BJP and the RSS, saying those who were never part of the freedom movement have no right to preach what nationalism means.

"Today the BJP is talking about nationalism whereas the veterans of the BJP and the RSS played no role in the independence movement," Nitish Kumar told a rally in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency Varanasi.

"When Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) was fighting against the British, when freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Chandrasekhar Azad gave their lives for the country, they (BJP and RSS) were not there.

"But today they are preaching nationalism," the Janata Dal-United leader said. He quickly added: "We don't need nationalism lessons from them."

The chief minister, making his first visit to Varanasi after the 2014 Lok Sabha battle, alleged that the central government had failed on every front.

"They promised to bring back black money in 100 days. Have they delivered?

"They delivered Love Jehad, Ghar Wapsi and during the Bihar elections they raised the issue of beef," he said.

IANS