Ram Vilas Paswan Says Nitish Kumar Government Won't Last Long In Bihar

Patna: Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today said the 'Grand Alliance' government in Bihar "will not last long" citing the "ongoing war of words" between the allies JD(U) and RJD.

"Given the ongoing war of words between the two alliance partners in Bihar, this (state) government will not last long," the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs told reporters in Patna at party office.

Accompanied by party's Parliamentary Board chairman Chirag Paswan, the minister asked RJD boss Lalu Prasad to explain if his party's leaders - Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Taslimuddin and Prabhunath Singh - are making statements against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with or without his consent.

RJD leaders Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Taslimuddin had recently criticised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar prompting JD(U) to demand action against both of them.

Mr Paswan said that Mr Prasad's "silence" shows he has given his "tacit" support to these leaders to mount pressure on Mr Kumar, who has initiated action against various RJD leaders like Mohammad Shahabuddin, Raj Ballabh Yadav, Bindi Yadav, for their alleged involvement in criminal activities.

Referring to Chirag Paswan's recent meeting with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh demanding President's Rule in Bihar over "deteriorating" law and order in the state, Mr Paswan questioned Mr Kumar's good governance claims asking what type of "good governance" he wants if state minister Abdul Gafoor can meet Mohammad Shahabuddin in jail, who is serving life term.

"Nitish Kumar should also explain as to what happened to his assurance 'Main Hoon Naa' in reply to a query during Bihar Assembly polls that he has aligned with RJD which is synonymous with 'Jungle Raj'," he said.

He should also explain as to what happened to the slogan of 'Bihar Me Bahaar Hai Nitishe Kumar Hai' and there will be rule of law in the state, Mr Paswan said.