Nitish Kumar paints bleak picture of PM Narendra Modi's 2 years in office

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today took a dim view of the BJP-led NDA government’s two years at the Centre, saying nothing had been done during this period. “I congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for completing two years in office. He has been elected for five years ... two years have been completed but nothing has been done during this period. Efforts should be made to do something good in future,” Kumar told reporters.

Asked about the progress of investigation into the murder of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan in Siwan, Kumar, emerging from a meeting of state-level bankers’ here, said, “From the beginning I have been asking people to keep faith on police ...they have achieved a breakthrough in the case.”

The police today said it has arrested five persons, including Rohit Kumar believed to be the main accused, from different areas of Siwan today. Kumar, who is also the president of the JD(U), took a dig at rival BJP leaders and said, “A few persons do not have faith on anything ... giving statements after ‘misinterpreting’ every issues has become their habit.”

“Whosoever is found responsible for the dastardly act would be punished sternly,” he said. Replying to another question on the upcoming Rajya Sabha poll, Kumar said, “JD(U) will contest for two seats of the Rajya Sabha and as many of state Legislative Council.”

He, however, said the names of candidates would be declared later. Five JD(U) members of the Upper House from Bihar, including Sharad Yadav, K C Tyagi, RCP Singh, Pavan Varma and Gulam Rasool Balyawi, are retiring in July.

As per the results of the recent Bihar poll, the JD(U) and the RJD can send two members each to the Rajya Sabha, while BJP can gain one seat from the state. Seven seats of the state Legislative Council would also go to the poll in June.