New Delhi:
Bihar Chief Minster Nitish Kumar has flatly put his alliance with the BJP on the line, ruling out any support for Narendra Modi as the National Democratic Alliance's candidate for prime minister. In a hard-hitting speech at a party meet yesterday, the Janata Dal (United) leader made many jabs at the Gujarat Chief Minister, without naming him. Here is a selection:
Here is a selection of his top 10 quotes
On Modi's secular credentials: We will not compromise on the principle of secularism...PM candidate should have impeccable secular image.
No compromise: We have some fundamental principles on which we can't compromise ... we cannot give up on secularism to stay in power.
Need for inclusive leadership: Only one who can carry with him all the diverse sections of people can become the leader of the nation.
Someone like Vajpayee, read not Modi: Atalji always used to say follow your Rajdharma. This was Atal Bihari Vajpayee's personality. Now, if there is an attempt to change the path, there is bound to be problems.
Modi marketing: The country does not run by mere projection. Some persons think they will create a wave and people will accept it.
No to divisive politics: We have never divided society - we have been able to garner support from those sections who did not expect anything from us. We have bound the society together and not divided them. We have kept all sections of society together.
Warnings: We want the country to run on a straight path, but if it is derailed then we can't predict what will happen tomorrow.
On alliance with BJP: We want to go along, we don't want to leave. But there are some fundamental issues.
Skull cap jibe: The country can't be run by force, it has to be run by brotherhood and harmony, if need arises, one has to wear the 'topi' and put on the 'tilak' for the nation. (Narendra Modi had refused to put on a 'skull cap' offered by a Muslim cleric during his three-day 'Sadbhavana' fast in Gujarat in September 2011).
Bihar versus Gujarat: Any people will accept it as development even when a developed state is growing. We have been backward. If we develop, it is to be discussed. Bihar has its own story of development. It has its own topography. From where will we get the seashore?
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