Nitish attacks BJP over dalit student's suicide

Patna, Jan 20: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today attacked BJP government at the Centre over the suicide by a dalit student and said it was caused due to "environment of intolerance developing in the society".

"Its a matter of concern for the country that a dalit student is forced to take his life over his unpleasant treatment," Kumar told reporters reacting to the incident at Hyderabad University.

"The forces that have emerged in the post-liberalisation phase has created an environment of intolerance in the society which poses a danger to growth in the country," he said in an apparent dig at BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

Expressing grief over dalit scholar Rohith Vemula committing suicide following his suspension, Kumar, a senior JD(U) leader, demanded an impartial inquiry into the incident.

Kumar, who in partnership with RJD President Lalu Prasad won a landslide victory for the secular alliance in the Bihar assembly elections, emphasised on the "need for a Bihar-like grouping to fight the present challenge."

The Bihar CM also condemned the terrorists attack in a Pakistan's Bacha Khan University today and stressed on fighting terror at the ideological level together.

He was talking to reporters after a condolence meeting for veteran CPI leader A B Bardhan, which was attended by RJD President Lalu Prasad too.

PTI