No new promises, please: Nitish to PM

Patna, September 1

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's fourth rally in Bhagalpur today, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asked him not to make new promises to Bihar but "show moral courage" and ensure implementation of all the pledges made till date.

"Show moral courage. No new promises please. Outline a credible action plan to deliver on the promises you have made to the people till date," he said in a series of tweets.

The Chief Minister asked the Prime Minister to live up to his 2014 election promise of decriminalisation and not announce tickets to candidates with criminal background.

Kumar further exhorted the Prime Minister to deliver on his promise to provide special status to Bihar and refrain from "misleading" the people by way of special package to Bihar that Modi had announced at an official function in Arrah on August 18 last.

"Don't mislead with the so-called package where 86 per cent is repackaged old schemes," the senior JD(U) leader said.

On the Prime Minister's remark that something was wrong with the Chief Minister's DNA, Kumar asked the Prime Minister to "take back the derogatory words".

"Show moral courage. Take back your derogatory words on questioning the DNA and calling the state Bimaru and people as durbhagyashali (unfortunate)," the Chief Minister said and implored Modi to respect the sentiments of the people of Bihar who, he said, were "troubled by his unkept promises and unsavoury comments".

Kumar further asked the Prime Minister to stop indulging in rhetoric, chest thumping and making new promises one after another and "accept his inadequacy to deliver on his old promises". —PTI