Congress challenges Nitish Kumar to sever ties with BJP

The Congress today charged chief minister Nitish Kumar with maintaining "baffling silence" on the alleged involvement of RSS leader Indresh Kumar in the Ajmer blast case and asked the JD(U) leader to severe ties with the BJP if he claimed to be a secular leader.

Kumar should sever ties with BJP after the alleged involvement of an RSS leader in the Ajmer blast case "or else should stop claiming himself to be one (secular)," party spokesperson Prem Chandra Mishra told reporters in Patna.

Kumar's silence is "all the more baffling" in view of his strong reaction after publication of his photograph together with Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi in June this year, Mishra said.

AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi's comments equating RSS and SIMI as similar outfits was vindicated following the reported inclusion of Indresh Kumar's name in the chargesheet, he said.

AICC president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul will visit Bihar again to campaign for Congress candidates in the ongoing assembly polls.

Rahul will address three election meetings tomorrow, while Sonia Gandhi will visit on October 28 and address two election meetings, he said.