JD-U opposes Modi as PM, rules out tie-up with Congress

Citing his failure to check the post-Godhra riots, JD-U on Saturday made clear its opposition to Modi's projection as PM candidate but ruled out the possibility of aligning with 'enemy' Congress at the cost of 'friend' BJP.

JD-U on Saturday ruled out any tie-up with Congress to form a government after the general elections due next year, terming the party as an "enemy".

"There is no question of forming a government with Congress. We have seen what happened to Chandrashekhar and Deve Gowda. God save us from them," JD(U) spokesman K C Tyagi said at a press conference after the first day deliberations at the JD(U) national executive here.

"Congress is an enemy. BJP is a friend and you do not strike deal or put pressure on your friends," he said.

There were indications of the Congress and the JD(U) coming closer, particularly after the Centre's initiatives on granting special status to Bihar, a long standing demand of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Asked about the demand for special status for Bihar, he said it was the fundamental right of the people of the state and there was no question of having any deal with the Congress over this.

On Narendra Modi, a person whom it had termed "communal", the JD(U) said he had "failed in discharging his duties as the head of the state to check communal riots in Gujarat in 2002".

However, it asked how the Congress could question the Gujarat Chief Minister when it had committed the "same act" during the 1984 anti-sikh riots.

"Congress is not even entitled to question Modi over his performance in 2002 Gujarat riots as they had committed the same act in Delhi in 1984," Tyagi said.

Earlier, some posters were put up at the venue of the Executive Committee meeting showing JD(U) leaders leading the charge against the Congress in the next general elections.

The posters, put up at the venue by the Tamil Nadu unit of the JD(U), showed Nitish Kumar as Arjuna and party President Sharad Yadav as 'Krishna' on a chariot in the '2nd Mahabharata war in 2014', a euphemism for the general elections.

The posters show their rivals Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the drivers seat on a chariot carrying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The UPA chariot shows some warriors named '2G', 'Commonwealth', 'Adarsh', 'Helicopter' under the title 'correptions' (sic).

Interestingly, the chariot labelled NDA show Yadav and Kumar and no BJP leaders.

Stung by the depiction of its leadership, Congress spokesman Rashid Alvi demanded immediate removal of the posters.

"We condemn such kind of hoardings. The JD(U) should withdraw these hoardings and apologise to the nation," Alvi said.

The Congress leader also wanted to know whether the BJP approved of the depiction of Yadav, also the JD(U) President, as Arjun of the epic Mahabharata.

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