The quip has come from RJD MLA from Maner, Bhai Virendra, who said Nitish's initial pro-demonetization stand may have been an attempt to keep cordial relations with his 'old friends'.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar once again sprung a surprise on Friday when he deviated from his known 'pro-demonetization' stance and backed former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remark that the cash wash was a 'monumental mismanagement' and sought figures of crackdown on black money since November 8.
Nitish's shift has kicked off a political storm in Bihar, only this time the ripples are being felt within the Mahagathbandhan after an RJD leader termed Nitish's move as "Ab aaya unt pahaad ke neeche (Now the camel has come down the mountain)".
The quip has come from RJD MLA from Maner, Bhai Virendra, who said Nitish's initial pro-demonetization stand may have been an attempt to keep cordial relations with his 'old friends'. "But, now he has understood that people are against the big notes ban and took a u-turn on the issue," he said.
Understandably, Virendra's statement didn't go well with the JD(U) leaders, who hit back in defence of their national president. "We do not work under anyone's pressure or advice. We stick to what we decide. Ours is a party which shunned power just to stop communal forces and we don't need lessons from others," JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said. He added, "If he has to express his feelings, he should do it in front of his party supremo (Lalu Prasad). Such statements are not good for the alliance."
It may be recalled that Nitish's unequivocal support to PM Narendra Modi in scrapping of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes had created fissures within the grand alliance as partners Congress and RJD were leading the anti-demonetization bandwagon. The Bihar CM did not participate in any of the anti-notes ban demonstrations by the Opposition parties.
JD(U) MLC Sanjay Singh charged that Virendra was crossing his lakshmanrekha to grab headlines. "He should refrain from making such statements, or else we'll not tolerate it," Singh said.
While the third alliance constituent, Congress, too has welcomed Nitish's change of stand on demonetization move, the ruling BJP is enjoying the internal bickering in the Mahagathbandhan while it lasts.
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 "Nitish Kumar")
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