Ad Showing Nitish with Modi Sparks Controversy

"If my photograph has been used in the advertisement. I have no information on it, my office does not know about it, no consent has been taken for it. So whatever legal action is possible we will take," said Nitish Kumar, Bihar Chief Minister.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday cancelled a dinner planned in honour of the top brass of the Bharatiya Janata Party on the sidelines of the latter’s ongoing National Executive meet. Kumar is believed to have been upset over a controversial click showcasing Gujarat chief minister Narender Modi holding hand with him at a stage during floods two years ago.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi spoke for the first time after the ad fiasco on Sunday. Addressing the BJP's swabhiman rally in Patna Modi praised the people of Bihar. Modi, who has come to Bihar for the first time since 2001, said, "People of Bihar have contributed to Gujarat's progress." He added, "I have come here to salute the people of Bihar."

The head of the advertising agency in Patna which released the controversial ad, stated that it was given approval by the Surat BJP MP, CR Patil. Arindam Guha, Director of the ad agency, added that the final artwork wouldn’t have been published had Mr. Patil not given the green signal. It was also said that the final draft was sent to the newspapers at around 5 p.m. Guha said that in case there would have been any objection, there was enough time to stop the release but no such opposition was posed. He also said that the ad was not political and that many local businessmen from Bihar were involved. Also, he said that the businessmen were the contributors and the agency did nothing as it was only paid money for the work.