Thursday, January 26 2006 14:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: The mounting National Democratic Alliance (NDA) demand for Governor Buta Singh's scalp in the wake of the Supreme Court strictures against him notwithstanding, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today (Jan 26,2006) refused to be drawn into the controversy.

''I occupy a constitutional post and so does he. I don't have to make any comment,'' Kumar told reporters on the sidelines the Republic Day function at Gandhi Maidan where Buta Singh hoisted the national flag and took salute of a parade by the state police, Army and the central para-military forces.

He was responding to a reporter's query about whether Buta's refusal to step down was not causing any embarrassment to Bihar.

When the same newsman asked him if Bihar's image was not being sullied due to continuance of Singh, who has been indicted by the apex court for his role in the dissolution of the 13th Bihar Assembly, Kumar, who had launched nearly two month-long 'nyay yatra' seeking the Governor's dismissal following the dissolution, said, ''Everybody should try to create a good image of the state."