'Everyone Is Free To Come Here': Nitish Kumar As Amit Shah Arrives In Bihar

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said that everybody is free to visit his state as Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Lakhisarai to meet party leaders. Kumar, who was speaking to reporters here, however, evaded questions on the Narendra Modi government's strong pitch for the Uniform Civil Code.

"Everyone is free to come here. Everyone has the right to visit Bihar," the Chief Minister said to questions on Shah's proposed visit to Lakhisarai later in the day. Asked for his comment on the Opposition parties' meeting here, which was hosted by him, Kumar said, ''The meeting is over, We will speak later on this.''

Shah arrived at the Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport this afternoon and left for Lakhisarai in Munger district, about 150 km away, in a helicopter.  He was received by senior BJP leaders, including the state party president Samrat Choudhary and union ministers from Bihar. Shah's visit to the state is the first by any top BJP leader after the June 23 meeting of opposition parties here which was held to discuss and chart out a path ahead of the 2024 general election.

In Lakhisarai, Shah will also offer prayers at Ashok Dham, a famous shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, before addressing a public meeting there. Shah had last visited the state nearly three months ago.

Meanwhile, ahead of his visit to Lakhisarai, supporters of the ruling Mahagathbandhan parties and the opposition BJP have put up posters near the airport and at several locations in Patna. Those put up by supporters of the Grand Alliance government criticised the BJP leadership for violence in Manipur and misuse of central agencies, the CBI, ED and the Income Tax department.

Some of the posters put up by the ruling alliance questioned the alleged silence of BJP leaders in the matter of wrestlers protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

On the other hand, BJP supporters have put up posters slamming the opposition unity against it. Reacting to the poster war, spokesperson Neeraj Kumar of the ruling JD (U), said ''The party has nothing to do with these posters. The concept and ideas for them were created by party workers and they have put posters in the city.''

There is nothing wrong with the messages in the posters, he said and sought to know what had happened to the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his NDA government to the people.