Nitish Returns Modi’s Kosi Floods Aid

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has returned the Gujarat government’s aid to the state during the Koshi floods of 2008, said media reports.

Narendra Modi government of Gujarat had donated Rs 5 crore to Bihar after the devastating Kosi floods.

The step came in the backdrop of the controversy which erupted after the Gujarat government claimed in an advertisement that it had donated liberally to Bihar after the Kosi floods.

Moreover, Kumar’s photograph appeared with Narendra Modi in another advertisement published in Bihar dailies adding fuel to the fire.

Talking to a television channel, Bihar Disaster management Minister Devesh Thakur said, “We felt… the whole issue was in compliance with our secular image so we returned the money.”

Clarifying his government’s stand, Thakur said, “We feel minorities should feel safe and secure in the state. Modi has an image of being anti-secular, so we don’t want this to affect our party.”

In response to a query about the BJP-JD(U) alliance, the minister said that his party doesn’t have any problem with continuing its relationship with the national party, reports said.

The Nitish-Modi spat had come out in open when the Bihar CM had described as ‘uncivilised’ Gujarat government’s claim through newspaper advertisements that it donated liberally to Bihar after the 2008 Kosi floods.

Kumar also took strong exception to the use of his photograph with that of Narendra Modi in another advertisement published in local dailies and said he would take legal action against those responsible for it.

(Based on internet reports)