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The war of words between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar escalated on Monday with the latter tweeting that "50 lakh people" from Bihar would send their DNA samples for testing to the prime minister.
The posting on social media was in reference to Modi remarks during the public meeting in Muzaffarpur last month where he had said: "There seems to be some problem in his (Nitish Kumar's) DNA because the DNA of democracy is not like that. In democracy, you give respect even to your political rivals."
Last week, in an open letter released on Twitter, Nitish said Modi's July 25 remark questioning his DNA was being seen as an "insult" by large sections of the people of the state and beyond.
"Most of us feel that these statements, beyond questioning my own descent, have disrespected the lineage of our people and have denigrated the great legacy of the state," he said.
The BJP-led NDA leaders had then shot back by saying, "Bihar is not Nitish; Nitish is not Bihar".
On Sunday, Modi, who addressed a rally in Gaya, about 100 km from Patna, remained silent over political controversy created by his comments.
During Sunday's rally, Modi, who had recently described Lalu Prasad's RJD as a party signifying "Rojana Jungle Raj Ka Dar", coined another name for its ally JD-U calling it "Janata ka Daman aur Utpidan (Oppression and Suppression of People)".
Hitting back, Kumar said BJP means Badka Jhutha Party (party of big liars) and 'Bhartiya Jumla Party'.
"If PM brings down the standard of discourse by describing our party as Janata Ka Daman aur Utpiran and runs down Bihar and its people, then I am constrained to say that the BJP means Badka Jhutha Party," he told reporters.
"I cannot think of any other name for the BJP other than it being a Badka Jhutha Party (Big Liars Party) at this stage....I may think about some other name depending on the PM's barb at us," Kumar said in a tit-for-tat.
On Tuesday, Nitish and Lalu Yadav will launch a signature campaign against Modi's 'DNA' remark.
"Inspite of our repeated pleas, Modiji hasn't retracted his derogatory remarks on our DNA. We're going to launch a 'shabd wapasi' campaign against him," tweeted Nitish.
JD-U spokesperson Ajay Alok said the party would also hold a 'Swabhiman' rally on August 29 in Patna to protest Modi's DNA remark against Nitish Kumar.
According to him, JD-U will collect signature of 50 lakh people from different parts of Bihar.
He said that rally will be jointly addressed by Nitish and Lalu.
With Agency Inputs