Threatening to sue the media for “putting words in his mouth”, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday denied describing Ishrat Jahan, who was killed in 2004 in an encounter in Gujarat, as a “daughter of Bihar”. The Janata Dal (United) chief demanded to be shown evidence to prove he had made the statement, PTI reported.

Kumar said he had looked through records and news clippings to ascertain whether he had ever made the remark. “After doing necessary groundwork, I will initiate legal action against the media – electronic as well as print – for putting words in my mouth,” he said, adding that he will not tolerate such attempts to defame him.

After Lashkar-e-Taiba operative David Headley revealed in court last week that Jahan was a suicide bomber belonging to the terrorist group, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushil Kumar Modi said Kumar must apologise for calling her a “daughter of Bihar” in the past. The BJP has brought up the statement on several occasions, accusing Kumar of trying to placate a particular community for vote-bank politics.