JDU's explanation on Nitish's wry smile as Modi chants 'Vande Mataram'

Interestingly, Modi, while addressing the rally had castigated former Bihar minister and RJD candidate for Darbhanga Abdul Bari Siddiqui for his statement that he could not recite the national song as it went against his monotheistic religious beliefs.

PM Narendra Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar during an election rally in Muzaffarpur on April 30. PIC/PTI

New Delhi: Bihar ally Chief Minister Nitish Kumar chose to remain seated while Narendra Modi led his supporters in fervently chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram" at a recent rally in Bihar. The video of the rally at Darbhanga that had gone viral shows Modi and others standing and repeatedly raising the BJP's battle cry "Vande Mataram..." while thrusting their clenched fists into the air. Those following the lead included LJP chief and union minister Ram Vilas Paswan. The footage left social media abuzz with speculations about the next move of the canny Bihar satrap who has made many a turnaround in the last about half decade. Speaking over Nitish’s wry smile during the chanring, his party JDU’s general secretary KC Tyagi said, “I am in support of Vande Matram singing.  But this should not be imposed on anyone. This is not the part of NDA's accepted agenda. In a joint rally care should be taken of everyone’s sentiments and emotion.” Interestingly, Modi, while addressing the rally had castigated former Bihar minister and RJD candidate for Darbhanga Abdul Bari Siddiqui for his statement that he could not recite the national song as it went against his monotheistic religious beliefs. When asked about the JD(U) president's gesture, party spokesman Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said his party was of the view that one's reverence for the country could be shown in many ways and, of course, chanting Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata ki Jai were among those. "But ours is a diverse culture and we ought to respect each other's customs. People must not be coerced into exhibiting their patriotism in one particular way," he told. (With additional information from PTI)