Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday called for respecting all religions and not demeaning them days after state education minister ChandrashekharтАЩs remarks that epic Ramcharitmanas promoted social discrimination and spread hatred in society provoked outrage.
тАЬThere should not be any interference with any religion and one should not demean any religion,тАЭ said Kumar, who has been under attack for not acting against Chandrashekhar. тАЬI have explained this and yesterday [Monday] deputy chief minister [Tejashwi Yadav] also spoke about this.тАЭ
Yadav defended Chandrashekhar while asking people to be mindful of the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)тАЩs conspiracies. He cautioned his party members to respect all religions. тАЬ…it [BJP] is cunningly trying to direct the political discourse towards a Hindu versus Muslim binary.тАЭ He said one should not demean any other religion as it was against the Constitution that respects all religions.
The BJP hit out at Chandrashekhar, a leader of YadavтАЩs Rashtriya Janata Dal, over his comments
The controversy coincided with reports of a rift in the ruling alliance even as Yadav denied this. KumarтАЩs Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) has also been critical of the comments and demanded action against Chandrashekhar.
JD(U) minister Ashok Chaudhary, a close aide to Nitish Kumar, said the comments created confusion among people that they are anti-Hindu and opposed to Ramcharitmanas. тАЬThe BJP is benefiting from such statements,тАЭ he said after Kumar earlier feigned ignorance about ChandrashekharтАЩs statement.
