New Delhi, Apr 24: Apparently distancing himself from suggestions that he was targeting Narendra Modi, Senior JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Tuesday said his comment made at the recent party conclave that triggered a controversy was not against anybody.
"I had also praised former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for the successful run of NDA coalition...How can it (the comment) be construed as comment against somebody," Kumar said, addressing a programme on the birth anniversary of Veer Kunwar Singh here.
While speaking at the conclave, Kumar had said, "Nobody should think that the country can be run by force....Sometimes you will have to wear a cap, sometimes you will have to sport a 'tilak'. This country is like this."
This comment was thought to be a reference to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's refusal to put on a skull cap given by a Muslim cleric in Gujarat in September 2011.
Kumar's antipathy towards Modi due to 2002 Gujarat riots is an open secret. It was because of him that BJP did not bring Modi to campaign for the party either in 2009 general elections or 2010 Assembly polls.
"It is not important how big a party is, but the ideas it holds significant is," Kumar said apparently aiming at a section of BJP leaders who reacted against his comments.
The JD(U) leaders assertions at the conclave was taken strongly by BJP as an attack on Modi, considered a potential candidate for the prime minister's post from the party.
BJP leaders mainly from Bihar, including Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, an architect of NDA alliance in Bihar along with Kumar, had expressed protest over it.
The war of words from leaders of the two old allies has triggered speculation if the coalition would remain till the 2014 general elections.
Reiterating the need for special category status for Bihar, Kumar said the 2014 elections would be utilised for furthering the demand.
He said his party would continue the fight to earn special status for Bihar which was required to spur development process.
Making a veiled attack on his rival RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Kumar said those who wasted the opportunity to serve people were making tall claims of development.
"For this they are also kneeling down before masses seeking pardon for the past deeds," he said in a lighter vein.
But, people have tasted development and "these dramas cannot earn faith of the people", he added.
On recent decision of the Union cabinet to provide Rs 12,000 crore to Bihar considered as special package for Bihar, Kumar said it was wrong to call it special package as the allocation was continuation of money to be provided to the state after its division into Jharkhand.
He said a special cell was created in the Planning Commission after division of Bihar and this fund is part of its decision to build infrastructure in Bihar which was deprived of the mineral resources of the undivided state.
He highlighted developmental initiatives taken by his government which has resulted in bringing a turnaround of the state.
