BJP leaders lack substance, should apologise: JD(U)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday dismissed BJP's barb questioning his mental state, saying remarks by its leaders showed they have no substance, while JD(U) demanded an apology from its former ally.

"The language they are using proves that they do not have substance," Kumar told reporters.

Angry over Kumar's remark that blasts at Narendra Modi's Patna rally had benefited the BJP, party spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi on Monday said in New Delhi that there was a question mark over the mental state of Nitish Kumar.

"Everyday they are resorting to hollowness," Kumar said, hitting out at his former ally for the second successive day.

On Monday, Kumar had accused BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi of being an expert in 'jhooth ki kheti' (cultivation of falsehood).

Kumar justified lambasting the BJP on Monday as Modi had accused him of 'feasting' in Rajgir when his blasts were taking place in and around his rally venue in Patna.

"If they run a political party, I too run a political party and have every right to reply to the lies spread against us," he said on the sidelines of a function to mark foundation day of Bihar State Building Development Corporation.

Kumar on Monday denied any lapse in providing security for BJP's October 27 rally in Patna which was rocked by serial blasts.

The chief minister also claimed that terrorists in a way helped BJP otherwise their rally was a flop in terms of size of the crowd.

Meanwhile, senior JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha said, "The language used by Lekhi is a symptom of chronic ailment that has gripped her party. It reflects the culture of acute disrespect and intolerance."

Lekhi's comment on the "mindset and mental state of Nitish Kumar" is nothing but an affront to the dignity and pride of every single Bihari, he said.

On Lekhi's comment that Bihar "needs more mental institutes", Jha who handles Kumar's blog and Facebook accounts, cited Nalanda university and said Bihar was known for its legacy of being the hub for knowledge.

He demanded an apology from Lekhi and said failure to do so would "confirm the BJP's hatred" towards Bihar.