JDU hits back at Giriraj Singh, claims BJP is asking for donations from Pakistan for Bihar elections

Patna: The five-phased Bihar Assembly elections have turned into a clash between political parties where the campaigning is becoming increasingly bitter. After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the Janata Dal United of displaying its advertisements in a Pakistani news portal, the JDU has hit back claiming that BJP has been asking asking for donation from Pakistan.

Lashing out at BJP leader Giriraj Singh over his remark, JDU leader Ajay Alok said, "Giriraj Singh should know that we have an advertisement on Google website which is a web portal and through Google it was distributed not only on Dawn but world over. But Giriraj Singh should also explain that they have given a proper advertisement in Dawn e-newspaper which is there and which we have released it today in which the BJP is asking for donation in Pakistan. So would Giriraj Singh like to explain that why they were asking for donation in Pakistan and who are the donators - Was it ISI? And that is why because of this donation, they are not taking any step in Kashmir when Pakistani flags are being shown."

Union Minister Giriraj Singh in his interview to CNN-IBN had said, "people who are sympathising with Pakistan are enemies of India." Singh also questioned JDU's advertisement featuring Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Pakistani news portal Dawn.

"What was the need for Nitish to take Bihar polls to Pakistan? Why did Nitish give advertisement in Pakistan when elections are going on in Bihar? And then why was it removed later?" Singh asked.

A row had recently erupted after Giriraj Singh's ministerial colleague Rajiv Pratap Rudy shared a screenshot on Twitter of Pakistan 'Dawn' website carrying Nitish Kumar's advertisement in which is appealing for votes.

Rudy came in for sharp criticism by the Twitterati, who castigated him for his "ignorance" about Google ads and questioned his knowledge of the cyber world, arguing that Google provides ads on any site based on the reader's locations and browsing habits and insisted that it's not an ad in Dawn.

(With additional information from PTI)