Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appeared to lose his cool during a meeting of the INDIA bloc on Tuesday (Dec 20). During the meeting,&nbsp;Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TR&nbsp;Baalu requested a translation of Kumar's speech which was delivered in Hindi which seemingly irked the veteran leader, according to multiple reports.&nbsp;

A visibly agitated Kumar told Baalu that he should learn Hindu because "Hindi is a national language", leaving both sets of supporters puzzled. The tirade by Kumar continued for the next few minutes as he launched into the details of the Indian freedom struggle against the British and English imposition.

"Hindi is the national language of our country, which we name Hindustan. The language ought to be familiar to us."

Notably, in the last three meetings of the opposition bloc,&nbsp;Rashtriya Janata Dal Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha&nbsp;played the translator’s role, conveying in English the speeches of both&nbsp;Kumar and his own party patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav.

However, on Tuesday, before Jha could don the translator's hat, Kumar snapped and gave his piece of mind to the DMK leader.&nbsp;

Last month, Kumar was embroiled in another controversy when he addressed the Bihar legislative assembly and in a rather crude manner, delivered a vulgar sex education speech.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-opposition-leader-nitish-kumars-bizarre-speech-656300">Watch | Indian opposition leader Nitish Kumar's bizarre speech</a>

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<h2>Fissures within the bloc?</h2>

The incident once again showed the fissures that may have emerged within the newly minted&nbsp;INDIA bloc that wants to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling NDA government in the general elections next year.&nbsp;

The Bihar CM hasn't been enthused by the progress the opposition has made under the bloc either. He was seemingly missing from the joint presser of the bloc when Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was floated as the prime minister face for the upcoming general elections.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bihar-cm-nitish-kumar-faces-flak-for-sex-talks-in-assembly-656282">Also read | India: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar faces flak for bizarre sex talk in assembly</a>&nbsp;

Notably, Kumar has harboured PM hopes for a long time. He severed ties with NDA, prior to the 2014 elections when Modi was named the PM face. At the time, Kumar was seemingly at the peak of his political career and wanted to utilise it to further his PM dream. However, the opportunity never arrived and Kumar remained chained to the state politics.

(With inputs from agencies)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appeared to lose his cool during a meeting of the INDIA bloc on Tuesday (Dec 20). During the meeting, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TR Baalu requested a translation of Kumar's speech which was delivered in Hindi which seemingly irked the veteran leader, according to multiple reports.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appeared to lose his cool during a meeting of the INDIA bloc on Tuesday (Dec 20). During the meeting, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TR Baalu requested a translation of Kumar's speech which was delivered in Hindi which seemingly irked the veteran leader, according to multiple reports. A visibly agitated Kumar told Baalu that he should learn Hindu because "Hindi is a national language", leaving both sets of supporters puzzled. The tirade by Kumar continued for the next few minutes as he launched into the details of the Indian freedom struggle against the British and English imposition. "Hindi is the national language of our country, which we name Hindustan. The language ought to be familiar to us." Notably, in the last three meetings of the opposition bloc, Rashtriya Janata Dal Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha played the translator’s role, conveying in English the speeches of both Kumar and his own party patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav. However, on Tuesday, before Jha could don the translator's hat, Kumar snapped and gave his piece of mind to the DMK leader. Last month, Kumar was embroiled in another controversy when he addressed the Bihar legislative assembly and in a rather crude manner, delivered a vulgar sex education speech. Watch | Indian opposition leader Nitish Kumar's bizarre speech × Fissures within the bloc? The incident once again showed the fissures that may have emerged within the newly minted INDIA bloc that wants to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling NDA government in the general elections next year. The Bihar CM hasn't been enthused by the progress the opposition has made under the bloc either. He was seemingly missing from the joint presser of the bloc when Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was floated as the prime minister face for the upcoming general elections. Also read | India: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar faces flak for bizarre sex talk in assembly Notably, Kumar has harboured PM hopes for a long time. He severed ties with NDA, prior to the 2014 elections when Modi was named the PM face. At the time, Kumar was seemingly at the peak of his political career and wanted to utilise it to further his PM dream. However, the opportunity never arrived and Kumar remained chained to the state politics. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar loses it when DMK leader asks for English translation of his speech

Thevar Jayanthi is celebrated every year on October 30th, particularly in the Southern districts of Tamil Nadu to commemorate the birth anniversary of freedom fighter and spiritual leader Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar.&nbsp;

As Thevar is revered as a deity by certain communities and respected by various others, political leaders of the state unfailingly pay their rich tributes. However, Thevar Jayanthi this year witnessed a peculiar trend on Twitter - #GoBackStalin. Aimed at DMK president MK Stalin, this hashtag was a pan-India trend for much of the day hours.&nbsp;

Despite the looming risk of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Deputy CM O Panneerselvam, senior ministers, BJP State President L.Murugan and also DMK President MK Stalin visited the late leader’s statue in Madurai and garlanded it amid fanfare, following which they proceeded to the Thevar Memorial located in Pasumpon.&nbsp;

In what was a first, #GoBackStalin trend started gaining traction on social media, while he was in his home state. In the past, top BJP leaders visiting Tamil Nadu were the ones to be at the receiving end go such hashtags. It is notable that such #GoBack hashtags had come up when Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had visited the southern state on different occasions.&nbsp;

Many social media users and BJP, AIAMDK supporters were quick to further boost the trend, while sharing media critical of the DMK and its leadership. Some of them stated Thevar’s credentials and&nbsp;&nbsp;repute, while contrasting it with the DMK and Periyarist ideology. “Both Nationalism and Spiritualism are my two eyes said Thevar. What is DMK that doesn’t believe in both, doing at his memorial today?” read a popular tweet.

Referring to #GoBackStalin trend, BJP leader H.Raja had said it was ‘Karma’. He had quoted a couplet from the Thirukkural, which implied that what was inflicted upon others would come back to them.&nbsp;

“What are those who supported ‘Karuppar Kootam’ (group which denigrated Lord Muruga) doing at the memorial of a Muruga devotee” handles linked to the AIADMK questioned.&nbsp;

“Tremendous growth of Tamil Nadu RW Twitter users off-late. Back in June 2018 we did trend&nbsp;#GoBackStalin&nbsp;- but then we had limited Twitter users from TN. Today, we have grown in strength as a much stronger team. Exposing&nbsp;#DMK&nbsp;is a challenging task in the runup of 2021 Elections” BJP spokesperson SG Surya had commented, pointing out that their party and supporters had attempted to trend this hashtag earlier as well.

During the Prime Minister’s and Home Minister’s visits in the past, BJP leaders had trended hashtags welcoming them, but the #Goback hashtags, which were shared by opposition parties, their supporters and other social media users had far surpassed them.&nbsp;

Later in the afternoon, #TNwithMKStalin was also trending, with many supporters referring to the DMK leader as the "hope" for people of Tamil Nadu.

Thevar Jayanthi is celebrated every year on October 30th, particularly in the Southern districts of Tamil Nadu to commemorate the birth anniversary of freedom fighter and spiritual leader Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar.

Thevar Jayanthi is celebrated every year on October 30th, particularly in the Southern districts of Tamil Nadu to commemorate the birth anniversary of freedom fighter and spiritual leader Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar. As Thevar is revered as a deity by certain communities and respected by various others, political leaders of the state unfailingly pay their rich tributes. However, Thevar Jayanthi this year witnessed a peculiar trend on Twitter - #GoBackStalin. Aimed at DMK president MK Stalin, this hashtag was a pan-India trend for much of the day hours. Despite the looming risk of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Deputy CM O Panneerselvam, senior ministers, BJP State President L.Murugan and also DMK President MK Stalin visited the late leader’s statue in Madurai and garlanded it amid fanfare, following which they proceeded to the Thevar Memorial located in Pasumpon. In what was a first, #GoBackStalin trend started gaining traction on social media, while he was in his home state. In the past, top BJP leaders visiting Tamil Nadu were the ones to be at the receiving end go such hashtags. It is notable that such #GoBack hashtags had come up when Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had visited the southern state on different occasions. Many social media users and BJP, AIAMDK supporters were quick to further boost the trend, while sharing media critical of the DMK and its leadership. Some of them stated Thevar’s credentials and repute, while contrasting it with the DMK and Periyarist ideology. “Both Nationalism and Spiritualism are my two eyes said Thevar. What is DMK that doesn’t believe in both, doing at his memorial today?” read a popular tweet. Referring to #GoBackStalin trend, BJP leader H.Raja had said it was ‘Karma’. He had quoted a couplet from the Thirukkural, which implied that what was inflicted upon others would come back to them. “What are those who supported ‘Karuppar Kootam’ (group which denigrated Lord Muruga) doing at the memorial of a Muruga devotee” handles linked to the AIADMK questioned. “Tremendous growth of Tamil Nadu RW Twitter users off-late. Back in June 2018 we did trend #GoBackStalin - but then we had limited Twitter users from TN. Today, we have grown in strength as a much stronger team. Exposing #DMK is a challenging task in the runup of 2021 Elections” BJP spokesperson SG Surya had commented, pointing out that their party and supporters had attempted to trend this hashtag earlier as well. During the Prime Minister’s and Home Minister’s visits in the past, BJP leaders had trended hashtags welcoming them, but the #Goback hashtags, which were shared by opposition parties, their supporters and other social media users had far surpassed them. Later in the afternoon, #TNwithMKStalin was also trending, with many supporters referring to the DMK leader as the "hope" for people of Tamil Nadu.

#GoBackStalin trends on Twitter against DMK chief

DMK chief MK Stalin today said that he "doesn't see a chance" for a Third Front, in a setback for Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao who has been exploring the possibility of a non-BJP, non-Congress arrangement at the centre after the national elections. Mr Stalin, who met Mr Rao - or KCR as he is popularly known - yesterday, described the meeting as a "courtesy call", saying alliances weren't discussed at the meeting.

Stalin pours cold water on KCR plans; says, ''Don't see chance for third front"

The 2019 election is the first in Tamil Nadu in the absence of veteran leaders J Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi. But not a day passes without the candidates and campaigners evoking the names of their respective departed leaders.&nbsp;

But things have reached a new low after the state's chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami alleged that M K Stalin had kept his father and DMK Supremo M Karunanidhi under house arrest.&nbsp;

Regarding the mystery over the prolonged hospitalization and death of Jayalalithaa in late 2016, M K Stalin had said that if voted to power, he would initiate a probe to ascertain the circumstances that led to her demise. Stalin has also been accusing Edappadi Palaniswami of being linked to the break-in and murders at Kodanad Estate - Jayalalithaa's lavish estate in the Nilgiris.

While the attacks have gotten personal, the Chief Minister took it to an all new low while campaigning on Monday. The chief minister started by saying that he had information from senior DMK leaders and functionaries about why Karunanidhi was unable to speak during his final years.

He added that "If Karunanidhi is hale and healthy, Stalin can't become the leader of the DMK. Hence Stalin did not ensure that better treatment was provided for the ailing leader and kept him under house arrest for two years. Had he been taken abroad for treatment, he would have been able to speak," the chief minister said, quoting DMK sources.&nbsp;

As the crowds cheered, he said that "Stalin was the DMK leader who kept his father under arrest."&nbsp;

He also referred to how Stalin was elected DMK President only after the demise of his father Karunanidhi. Palaniswami, who is also the co-coordinator of the AIADMK, said that if such cruelty was meted out to a serving MLA and former chief minister, it is the duty of the government to probe the matter.&nbsp;

The veteran leader had been wheelchair-bound since 2010. Karunanidhi fell ill in October of 2016 due to a drug-induced allergy and was admitted to a private hospital in December 2016. He had undergone a tracheostomy, a procedure to optimize his breathing. Following the illness, he also stayed away from political activities and, in January 2017, his son, M K Stalin, was appointed the working president of the party.

M. Karunanidhi passed away on August 7th of 2018 after a brief hospitalization due to infections and age-related illnesses.&nbsp;

It was on August 28th that Karunanidhi's son M K Stalin was elected DMK President.

The 2019 election is the first in Tamil Nadu in the absence of veteran leaders J Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi. But not a day passes without the candidates and campaigners evoking the names of their respective departed leaders.

The 2019 election is the first in Tamil Nadu in the absence of veteran leaders J Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi. But not a day passes without the candidates and campaigners evoking the names of their respective departed leaders. But things have reached a new low after the state's chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami alleged that M K Stalin had kept his father and DMK Supremo M Karunanidhi under house arrest. Regarding the mystery over the prolonged hospitalization and death of Jayalalithaa in late 2016, M K Stalin had said that if voted to power, he would initiate a probe to ascertain the circumstances that led to her demise. Stalin has also been accusing Edappadi Palaniswami of being linked to the break-in and murders at Kodanad Estate - Jayalalithaa's lavish estate in the Nilgiris. While the attacks have gotten personal, the Chief Minister took it to an all new low while campaigning on Monday. The chief minister started by saying that he had information from senior DMK leaders and functionaries about why Karunanidhi was unable to speak during his final years. He added that "If Karunanidhi is hale and healthy, Stalin can't become the leader of the DMK. Hence Stalin did not ensure that better treatment was provided for the ailing leader and kept him under house arrest for two years. Had he been taken abroad for treatment, he would have been able to speak," the chief minister said, quoting DMK sources. As the crowds cheered, he said that "Stalin was the DMK leader who kept his father under arrest." He also referred to how Stalin was elected DMK President only after the demise of his father Karunanidhi. Palaniswami, who is also the co-coordinator of the AIADMK, said that if such cruelty was meted out to a serving MLA and former chief minister, it is the duty of the government to probe the matter. The veteran leader had been wheelchair-bound since 2010. Karunanidhi fell ill in October of 2016 due to a drug-induced allergy and was admitted to a private hospital in December 2016. He had undergone a tracheostomy, a procedure to optimize his breathing. Following the illness, he also stayed away from political activities and, in January 2017, his son, M K Stalin, was appointed the working president of the party. M. Karunanidhi passed away on August 7th of 2018 after a brief hospitalization due to infections and age-related illnesses. It was on August 28th that Karunanidhi's son M K Stalin was elected DMK President.

Stalin kept Karunanidhi under house arrest: Tamil Nadu CM E Palaniswami targets DMK chief

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India: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar loses it when DMK leader asks for English translation of his speech

#GoBackStalin trends on Twitter against DMK chief

Stalin pours cold water on KCR plans; says, ''Don't see chance for third front"

Stalin kept Karunanidhi under house arrest: Tamil Nadu CM E Palaniswami targets DMK chief