Controversy on PM’s degree a non-issue, says Nitish

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday termed the controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational qualification as a “non-issue”.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday termed the controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational qualification as a “non-issue”.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday termed the controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational qualification as a “non-issue”. (Sonu Mehta/HT Photo)

“These are personal issues. For me it is a non-issue,” he said, in response to a question that BJP president Amit Shah and Union minister Arun Jaitley had sought a public apology from Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP, JD-U, RJD and Congress for kicking off the controversy.

He, however, held his ground saying, “Before asking for apology from someone, they should set the ball rolling and express regret for raising muck during the Bihar assembly polls.”

“Kis-kis baat par mafi mangegay (on how many issues could they apologize),” he asked, while hinting at the personal remarks against him and the questions raised on his “DNA” by PM Narendra Modi last year.

The chief minister said the country’s politics was passing through a critical phase where personal attacks were fast becoming the norm, instead of debate, discussion and airing of differences on policy issues.

“They (BJP) are more interested in hitting at a person, rather than discussing policy,” he said in response to the situation that led to former PM Manmohan Singh, AICC chief Sonia Gandhi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to hit the streets.

To a question regarding his proposed visit to Nepal, Kumar said he was yet to receive any communication from the ministry of external affairs (MEA).

The Nepal government had reportedly extended an invite to Kumar to visit Lumbini on May 21 to take part in a Buddha Purnima programme along with the Prime Minister.