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After Nitish dinner snub, BJP goes into damage control

The party dismissed suggestions that strains with JD(U) would have any impact on their ties ahead of the assembly polls in the state.

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Snubbed by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar who cancelled a dinner for the party top brass, BJP today appeared to be standing by Gujarat chief minister  Narendra Modi, saying lunches and dinners are the last thing on party leaders minds.

The party dismissed suggestions that strains with JD(U) would have any impact on their ties ahead of the assembly polls in the state.

At the same time, BJP indicated that Modi has not done anything that could attract the ire of its "tried and tested" friend, claiming it looked more a "manufactured row". 

Things reached a head today when Kumar cancelled a dinner
for the top brass of the BJP in disapproval of an advertisement featuring him with Modi and another on Gujarat’s aid during the floods in Bihar two years ago.

There was bad blood between the two sides, which are sharing power in Bihar for nearly five years, after Kumar attacked those who released an advertisement featuring him with Modi about whom he was uncomfortable as a political ally.

Putting up a defence for Modi, BJP spokesman Shahnawaz
Hussain said the party was not aware that Kumar was angry and
suggested that it was itself not keen on the dinner as the
party wanted to devote more time on threadbare discussions on
issues of national importance.

Hussain was subjected to a volley of questions on Kumar's
snub, including whether BJP finds it embarrasing and whether
the issue came up at the on-going national executive meeting.

Replying to questions, Hussain hinted BJP was not happy with the way the controversy has been generated, noting that the party has been working for larger causes and when and where partaking of food was done has never been an issue for the leaders.

Hussain said the advertisement depicting the photo of Kumar along with Modi was not put up by Gujarat government but
by a "overzealous supporter" of Modi who considers both the
chief ministers as his "icons".

Besides, he clarified that another advertisement regarding relief given by Gujarat to Bihar during the Kosi floods in 2008 was not given with a view to doing "charity".

"The JD(U) is our oldest ally. It is a tried and tested ally like Akali Dal and Shiv Sena. Our ties with it are very good," he said when asked whether today's developments were indicative of possible break-up of the alliance. 

At the same time, he made it clear that no party leader was going to Nitish Kumar to pacify him. 

Suggesting that the party was behind Modi, Hussain said BJP has a "galaxy of leadership" who are bound by one ideology and banner. 

Before Kumar finally called off the dinner, a senior BJP leader, who declined to be identified, accused him of over reacting” by attacking Modi.

"He is overreacting. This is not the way to treat your partner", he said. 

He said opinion was building up against attending the dinner to which Modi was one of the invitees. 

Kumar, who has an eye on Muslim votes, had avoided sharing dais with Modi in Bihar. 

Replying to a question, Hussain rejected suggestions that the row would affect the public rally being planned by the party tomorrow to launch BJP's campaign for the coming assembly polls in the state.

Earlier, Kumar lashed out at Modi’s government for its advertisement on Friday on its "liberal donation" to Bihar during the 2008 Kosi floods, saying it was "uncivilised" to talk about help given during times of tragedy.

He also took strong exception to the use of his photograph with that of Modi in another advertisement published in local dailies and said he would take legal action against those responsible for it.

"Gujarat government’s claim (on flood relief) is uncivilised and against Indian culture. Nobody claims bestowing favours on those who face tragedy caused by natural calamities," Kumar told reporters here.

Kumar said he or his office was not consulted on the use of his photograph with that of Modi in the advertisement issued by some private individuals.

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