LIVE TV
India
Recommended Stories
Patna: Dismissing any rift with JD(U) president Sharad Yadav over the midday meal tragedy, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said there was a conspiracy behind the incident and opposition charges against him were a reflection of 'dirty politics'.
"There is no conflict with Sharad Yadav on the midday meal case ... He has already issued clarification over the statements attributed to him," Kumar told reporters at a impromptu press meet a little after the absconding school principal was arrested at Chhapra.
The Bihar CM reiterated his earlier charge that the tragedy was no 'coincidence' but part of a 'conspiracy' to destabilise his government.
"The conspiracy has been confirmed in the Forensic Science Laboratory report as well in the versions of natives of Mashrakh where the incident took place," Kumar, who came before the media for the first time after the Chhapra incident on Tuesday last week, said.
A total 23 children had died after eating poisoned food served to them by the government-run Dharamsati Gandaman school on July 16.
Expressing surprise over the opposition questioning his 'silence out of insensitivity' towards the tragedy, the Bihar CM said he could not go either to Mashrakh or to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) where 24 children and woman cook are still being treated because of health reasons.
"This reflects their (opposition's) dirty politics...I can never imagine to stoop down to such level."
"Everybody knowns about the fracture of the small toe of my left leg for which doctors have advised me not to move about. But, I kept monitoring from my residence and gave necessary instructions to the officials ever since the news of the tragedy came in on the afternoon of July 16," said Kumar, who was seen coming limping to the press meet in his official residence after disembarking from his official vehicle.
