NEW DELHI: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday, in a surprise move, tried to touch the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on stage during an event in Darbhanga. However, PM Modi’s quick reaction took everyone by surprise and made the video viral on social media.
In the video, 73-year-old Nitish Kumar was seen walking towards PM Modi on stage. As he reached in front of PM Modi, he bowed down to touch his feet. PM Modi, however, quickly held Kumar’s hands, stood up, and shook hands with the CM. Nitish Kumar then took the next to the PM.
This is, however, not the first time the JD(U) chief tried to touch PM Modi’s feet. In June, during a gathering in Parliament’s Central Hall, he attempted the same gesture, catching everyone off guard. In April, he had momentarily touched PM Modi’s feet during a Lok Sabha campaign rally in Nawada.
The two leaders were attending an event in Bihar’s Darbhanga where the PM laid foundation stone for AIIMS.
Speaking at the event, PM Modi expressed high regard for CM Nitish Kumar acknowledging his role in transforming the state’s administration from its previous condition of lawlessness.
Speaking for approximately 40 minutes, the Prime Minister addressed Kumar as “lokpriya mukhyamantri” (popular CM).
PM Modi stated, “Nitish babu has set up a model of sushasan (good governance).” He continued, “No praise is too high for him (jitni saraahna ki jaae kam hai) for his contribution in pulling Bihar out of the era of jungle raj. Now, under the NDA’s double engine government, the state is making rapid, all-round progress.”
He criticised previous state administrations, particularly the Congress-RJD coalition that governed for 15 years before the NDA took control in 2005, accusing them of deceiving people with “false (jhoothe) promises”.
Kumar’s JD(U) was instrumental in securing the NDA’s victory in the recent parliamentary elections.