50 lakh people of Bihar to send their DNA for test to PM Modi : Nitish Kumar
"In this shabdwapsi (take back your words) campaign, at least 50 lakh people of Bihar will join a signature campaign and send their samples to Modiji for a DNA test," Mr Kumar said in a series of tweets on Monday morning.
The aggressive Bihar Chief Minister took handle of a Modi's comment made at a Muzaffarpur rally last month where the Prime Minister had said "there is something wrong with Nitish Kumar's DNA" since he has a track record of ditching his allies and own men.
The aim of Modi, whose party BJP is set to go whole hog to capture power in Bihar was obviously to whip up the feeling of resentment of Dalits against Nitish Kumar, a former NDA ally, on the issue of his feud with Jitan Ram Manjhi, who quit Jata Dal (U) with his followers after being forced to make way for Kumar's return as Chief Minister.
In an open letter to Modi, the Bihar Chief Minister had demanded that PM Modi must take back his comments on a "problem in his DNA".
He said questioning his DNA amounts to questioning the DNA of the people of Bihar- a counter move that seeks to arouse ethnic sentiment against Modi or his party using the issue as a plank for election campaign.
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, who has teamed up with the Janata Dal(U) to resist BJP foray into Bihar, has also castigated the PM's comment.
Nitish Kumar also announced a "Swabhiman" or self-respect rally on August 29 with alliance partner Lalu Yadav, to take the "campaign" forward.
"PM Modi hasn't retracted his derogatory remarks on our DNA, we'll take the battle to people now," he tweeted.
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