BJP does not have courage to seek apology from Muslims:Nitish
Patna, Feb 27 (PTI) Unimpressed with BJP's offer to apologise
for any "mistake" or shortcomings in the past, Bihar Chief Minister
Nitish Kumar today said one needed to have "courage" for it.
"For seeking apology, one needs to have courage which, I think,
they do not have," Kumar told reporters when asked about BJP President
Rajnath Singh's offer of apology to reach out to Muslims ahead of the
Lok Sabha elections.
"You need to have a feeling from inside that I have committed
this mistake... I do not think that the party has the courage to say
so," Kumar, a senior JD(U) leader, said.
Asked that though the offer was made by Rajnath Singh and not BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate
Narendra Modi, Kumar said, "It will be dismissed outright."
To a question on reports of LJP joining the BJP, Kumar said, "This is an irony, but a truth."
He refused to comment on the expulsion of senior leader Shivanand
Tiwari, who had been firing salvos at him, and four others from the
party.
Kumar said his party has reached an understanding with CPI for
the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar. "A formal announcement and details of
the tie-up will be announced soon."
On sting operations revealing that poll surveys were fudged, he
said, "I have been saying that these are dhokha (cheat) and a PR
exercise played by people having cash bags."
Asked if he supported ban on surveys, he said, "If I say so,
people will say I am doing so because of getting less seats in these
surveys... but people will themselves protest such a game played by
people rich in cash."
In an apparent dig at
Narendra Modi,
Kumar said, "I have been saying if the surveys are giving results in
his favour what is he waiting for? He will take an oath of the highest
chair without casting of ballots."