Nitish Kumar responsible for Bihar situation: MoS Singh

Jamshedpur, Feb 20: Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Giriraj Singh today held former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar responsible for the prevailing political situation in his state.

"Ever since Kumar (Nitish) severed ties with BJP and came to the fold of RJD Supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav, the law and order situation has returned to the conditions which prevailed in 2005," Singh, who was in the steel city here to take part some program, told newsmen. "The reasons behind the prevailing political development have to be looked into," he said.

"Kumar cannot keep himself away from power and unfortunately he did not have faith in Jitan Ram Majhi despite making him Chief Minister after he stepped down," Singh said.

Singh also refuted allegations that the BJP was "encouraging" horse-trading in Bihar. Asked about the trial of strength on the floor of the House in Bihar today, Singh wished good luck to Manjhi but expressed apprehension that Kumar might do something in "desperation" that would tarnish the image of the house.

To a query regarding BJP's chief ministerial candidate in the next Assembly polls in Bihar, the Minister said the party will contest the polls under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has given top priority to the state's all- round development. Referring to Jharkhand, he said Modi has accorded priority to making the mineral-rich state one to the leading states of the country like Gujarat. Referring to the six Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) MLAs switching over to BJP, Singh said everyone is welcome in BJP but rejected the allegations that the party had engineered any defection.

PTI