Modi trying to murder democracy in Bihar: Nitish

Patna, Feb 12 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP are behind the Bihar governor's plan to murder parliamentary democracy by providing more time to Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi for horse trading to prove his majority, said JD-U leader Nitish Kumar Thursday.

"The governor and BJP are trying to murder parliamentary democracy in Bihar and Modi is behind this game plan," he said.

The former chief minister is back from Delhi where he met President Pranab Mukherjee and paraded 130 supporting legislators of the Janata Dal-United, Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress, the CPI and independents.

Nitish Kumar questioned Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi's decision to ask Manjhi to prove his majority on the floor of the state assembly Feb 20, the first day of the month-long budget session.

"Modi is behind the curtain to play this game plan. Soon after meeting Modi in Delhi, Manjhi revealed his plans of horse trading openly and started his operation to split JD-U," Nitish Kumar said.

He said Bihar's political environment was being deliberately polluted to impose President's Rule in the state.

"But the JD-U, the RJD, the Congress and the CPI would not allow imposition of President's Rule in Bihar," he said.

Nitish Kumar said he had demanded that the governor call a special session of the Bihar assembly to provide a chance to the chief minister to prove his majority.

But the governor has ignored our request and given enough time to Manjhi for horse trading, he alleged.

There are five political parties in the Bihar assembly and four are with the JD-U.

The BJP has yet to revealed its stand on support.

According to Brajesh Malhotra, secretary to the governor, the floor test would be done either through lobby division or secret ballot, immediately after the governor's address to the joint sitting of the state legislature.