Free to go and join any party he likes, says Nitish Kumar to Pavan Varma over spar on CAA

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar slammed close aide Pawan Varma, who had written a letter to him about his stand on the JD (U) ally BJP and made it public. He also questioned the decision to partner with the BJP for the Delhi election amid nationwide protests against the new citizenship law. "He is free to go and join any party he likes, my best wishes," the Bihar Chief Minister said to the media on Thursday.

Former Rajya Sabha member and national general secretary of JDU, Pawan Varma, had tweeted a letter to Bihar CM on Tuesday saying he was "deeply perplexed" by the alliance with the BJP for the Delhi election. He also referred to private conversations in which the Chief Minister had expressed "grave apprehensions" about the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

"Our stand is clear, no confusion. If anyone has any issues, then the person can discuss it within party or at party meetings, but to give such public statements is surprising. Is this a way to talk?" said an apparently annoyed Nitish Kumar.

"(Leaving) is an option that everyone has and I know it," replied Varma. He also said that he welcomed Nitish Kumar's statement that there is space for discussion within the party. He said he would decide what to do after a reply to his letter.

In his letter, Varma had challenged his party chief to "harmonise" what he felt in private and what the JDU did in public.

"On more than one occasion, you have expressed your grave apprehensions about the BJP-RSS combine. If these are your real views, I fail to understand how the JDU is now extending its alliance with the BJP beyond Bihar, when even long standing allies of the BJP, like the Akali Dal, have refused to do so. This is especially so at a time when the BJP, through the CAA-NPR-NRC combine, has embarked on a massive social divisive agenda aimed at mutilating the peace, harmony and stability of the country," Varma wrote.

Varma also reminded Nitish Kumar that in their first meeting in 2012, "you had spoken to me at length and with conviction on why Narendra Modi and his policies are inimical for the country." He also referred to Kumar's call for an "RSS-mukt Bharat (RSS-free India)".

Varma claimed that Nitish Kumar had confessed to him in private about the current BJP leadership humiliating him.