BJP's patriotism is RSSism: Nitish Kumar

Patna: BJP's nationalism is about blindly following the ideology of its mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and has nothing to do with the country's interest and its people, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Saturday.

"'Inka rashtrawad hain RSSwad'. It is like Hitler's fascism," Nitish Kumar said in the Bihar assembly in his reply to the opposition BJP.
He said: "Nobody seeks nationalism certificate from them."
Targeting his opponent BJP with strong words, Nitish Kumar said the country would not tolerate their brand of nationalism.

"This country is full of diversity and have people with different culture, thoughts, ideas and food habits. The country will not tolerate their brand of nationalism, which they want to impose," Nitish Kumar said.

He also questioned the role of BJP's predecessor and its mentor RSS's role in the freedom struggle of the country. They should tell the people whether they played any role in the freedom struggle and whether they participated in it. "Please explain to people what was your role in freedom struggle?"

Nitish Kumar said the BJP's leaders have been talking big about the tricolour, the national flag, but they have no role in making this a national pride. He said the atmosphere of intolerance has increased after the BJP-led government was formed at the Centre. "First they created hatred by love jihad, followed by ghar wapsi and beef issue. Their campaign is based on false and baseless facts. All this was exposed and rejected by the people."

He also said BJP leaders first said Rohith Vemula was not a Dalit and questioned his identity. Is it not a fact that the central government's policy and role of BJP leaders including union ministers forced Rohith Vemula to commit suicide?, asked the chief minister, whose Janata Dal-United-led Grand Alliance defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Bihar assembly polls.

(IANS)