Nitish, Lalu differ on PM's Lahore visit

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his ally Lalu Prasad on Friday spoke in different voices on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise stopover in Lahore and the subsequent terror attack in Pathankot.

While Kumar welcomed Modi's visit and called it a "good gesture and initiative", Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad was critical and lashed out at the Centre for its "failure" in Patahankot.

"In my personal opinion, his (Modi's) visit was right. For the relation with Pakistan to improve and the resolution of controversial issues, it is necessary that the democratic forces there (be enagged)...," Kumar said, noting that the internal situation of Pakistan should be understood.

"If the PM went there on Nawaz Sharif's birthday or some wedding in his family, I consider it a good gesture. I do not look at it from any other angle. Some people say the visit was pre-planned but this is not an issue. It is a good thing and such an initiative is good," he told reporters.

Prasad, on the other hand, took a swipe at Modi for the visit, saying, "Only he knows what he talked about or what biryani he ate!". He said, "BJP people would boast about looking Pakistan in the eye and 56-inch chest. What happened? How did terrorists enter our home?"