New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS): Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday came out in support of Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar and criticised senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi over her reported remarks regarding the former Bihar Chief Minister.
Singh claimed Gandhi did not have the ‘moral standing’ to criticise Nitish Kumar or describe him as a ‘traitor’, asserting that the JD(U) leader had never betrayed anyone during his political career.
His remarks came amid reports of a disagreement between Sonia Gandhi and senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh over Nitish Kumar during Monday’s Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting.
According to reports, the two leaders differed over Kumar’s decision to leave the INDIA Bloc in 2024. Digvijaya Singh reportedly argued that the Opposition alliance should have made greater efforts to retain Kumar, while Sonia Gandhi maintained that he had been looking for an opportunity to leave the grouping.
According to Congress sources cited in reports, Digvijaya Singh told the meeting that Nitish Kumar should not have been allowed to leave the INDIA Bloc and that the political situation could have been different had he remained part of the alliance.
Sonia Gandhi reportedly responded that Kumar had been intending to leave and that his departure had ultimately worked in the Opposition’s favour.
Sonia Gandhi responded: “Thank God Nitish Kumar left on time. He was always meant to go there.”
The reported exchange took place as the CWC discussed the Congress’ political strategy and its campaign against the Election Commission over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
In a video message, Giriraj Singh defended Nitish Kumar and said the JD(U) leader had never supported corruption or ‘anti-national elements’.
“Nitish Kumar has never in his life patronised corrupt individuals, nor has he patronised anti-national elements. He remained committed to the nation and worked in national interest, whether as a Chief Minister or as a Central Cabinet Minister,” Singh said.
Targeting Sonia Gandhi, the Union Minister questioned her right to criticise Nitish Kumar.
“On what basis does she have the right to lecture others?” he added.
“He has never betrayed anyone in his life,” the Union Minister said.
Nitish Kumar officially quit the INDIA Bloc on January 28, 2024, when he resigned as Chief Minister of the Mahagathbandhan government and returned to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
