The Hindu : National : My stand is vindicated, says Nitish

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 25, 2006

National

National

My stand is vindicated, says Nitish

K. Balchand

PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday declined to comment on the Supreme Court order indicting Bihar Governor Buta Singh. He said it was against constitutional dignity.

He, however, said the court order vindicated his stand that the dissolution of the State Assembly was illegal. I have received justice from the people on this count. They were the first to vindicate my stand."

Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad said there was no need to react, as the apex court had delivered its verdict earlier. One should desist from commenting on its orders.

Mr. Buta Singh usually acted astutely and it was for him to decide whether to demit office or not. It was for the Union Government to decide on what the apex court had to say about him.

Steel Minister and Lok Jan Shakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan said it was for the Centre to handle the technical aspect of the court order.

There was little option other than dissolving the House though he was personally against it.

"The truth of the matter is I was the victim. The JD (U) and BJP had herded, paid and abducted the LJP legislators to Jharkhand. Several had spurned their overtures. The action of the NDA was a blot on democracy," Mr. Paswan said.

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