Opposing Nitish's Mumbai visit will be against country's unity, integrity: BJP

New Delhi, Apr 13 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday backed Nitish Kumar's decision to attend the 'Bihar Divas' programme in Mumbai, saying the decision to oppose the Bihar Chief Minister's visit will be against the unity and integrity of the country.

BJP spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said that a cultural programme is being organized in Mumbai to mark 'Bihar Divas' and the Bihar Chief Minister and popular NDA leader Nitish Kumar will be attending the programme, and " it would not be right to oppose Nitish Kumar's Mumbai visit for he represents Bihar and has a lot of respect in the country".

Shahnawaz Hussain pointed out that this was a cultural programme and everybody has got the right to visit any part of the country. . To oppose it, would be against the unity and integrity of the country.

Hussain said: " Nitish Kumar is the symbol of development. He represents Bihar and has a lot of respect in the country. If he is going to Mumbai for a cultural programme then opposing it is not correct."

Nitish Kumar had earlier in the day said that it was beyond his thinking as to why his proposed visit to Mumbai to celebrate 'Bihar Divas' would hurt the emotions of people of Maharashtra.

Nitish Kumar said that he would down before Maharashtra's land during his Mumbai visit.

"I am going there to attend a cultural function. I am not going there due to the contact with the political outfits. I am going there as the chief minister of Bihar as the people have invited me. It is beyond my thinking that why people should have problems with functions like these. When I visit there, I will bow down before Maharashtra's land," Kumar told the media in Patna.

"We are all proud of the leaders and saints of Maharashtra. This programme is for the poor people, who went there for work and settled there. I don't think anybody, the people of Maharashtra, should have problems with this function. The relationship between the people of Bihar and Maharashtra has been very good. I don't think our programme will hurt the emotions of the people of Maharashtra in any way," he added.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray had earlier on Thursday dared Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to celebrate "Bihar Divas" in Mumbai.

"I thought that Nitish Kumar was a nice person who was developing his state," he said, while addressing a rally at Idgah maidan at Malegaon.

Referring to the Bihar Chief Minister's statement that he does not need a visa to come to Mumbai, Thackeray said: "Let us see how he (Nitish) celebrates Bihar Din in Mumbai." (ANI)