Jind: Former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of practicing divisive politics and charged the Narendra Modi government with doing ‘nothing' to prevent Chinese incursions into Indian territory.
"He (Narendra Modi) had said during Lok Sabha elections that Indian land under China's control will be freed and lesson will be taught to Pakistan. During the recent visit of China's President Xi Jinping to India, Chinese army entered into Indian territory. We want to know where is the 56-inch chest now. What happened today when Chinese army is entering our territory. Nothing is happening," Kumar said on Thursday.
He was addressing 'Samman' rally organised by INLD to mark the 100th birth anniversary of former deputy prime minister Chaudhary Devi Lal here.
"They (BJP) talk of development while sitting in Delhi, but at lower level, they try to divide people," Kumar alleged.
He alleged BJP leaders have become ‘arrogant' as their senior leaders like L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi have not been given ‘respectable' place in the party.
"After winning (Lok Sabha) polls, BJP leaders have become arrogant. They do not have respect for their old and senior leaders like LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi. What kind of tradition they are following," he said.
Former chief minister of Haryana and INLD chief Om Parkash Chautala, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda were also present at the rally. Kumar said within a short span of time after coming to power at the Centre, BJP has faced ‘humiliating' defeats in by-polls of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
"They should know that people do not want divisive politics," the JD(U) leader said.
Kumar asked like-minded political outfits to unite and bring positive change in the country's political landscape.
"In the new political situation, there is a big challenge. The kind of political atmosphere we are having, we should unite and everybody should come together," he said.
Kumar said seeing the ‘huge' gathering at the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Devi Lal, it is now clear that people have made up their mind to support his party to help it form the next government in Haryana.
Kumar said he was confident that Chautala would come out of all ‘problems' he was facing and the state would get an able leadership.
Speaking at the event, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal urged people to vote for INLD candidates to help the party form government in Haryana, even as SAD supports BJP in Punjab.
"We have very old relations with the family of Chaudhary Devi Lal and INLD. I pray to the almighty that in forthcoming Haryana assembly polls, INLD forms the government in the state," Badal said.
SAD is an ally of INLD in Haryana and has nominated two candidates from Kalianwali and Ambala City seats for the October 15 polls.
Addressing the gathering, HD Deve Gowda said Chaudhary Devi Lal had always worked and struggled for the poor and downtrodden.
"Devi Lal had always fought for the cause of the farming community and helped in forming of farmer-friendly policies. Devi Lal also took farmer-friendly steps under V P Singh government at the Centre," he said.
JD(U) president Sharad Yadav and Shivpal Yadav, brother of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, were also present at the rally.
