PATNA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has cancelled his tour of Sasaram in Bihar where prohibitory orders are in place following communal tension sparked off during Ram Navami festivities, state BJP chief Samrat Choudhary said on Saturday.

Addressing media at the party’s state headquarters here, Choudhary said Shah, who will be reaching Patna on Saturday evening, will address party workers in Nawada Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday as per schedule, even as he squarely blamed the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar for the cancellation of the function at Sasaram, organised to celebrate the birth anniversary of Emperor Asoka.

“It is clear that Nitish Kumar is not in control of the administration. Even Bihar Sharif, which falls in the chief minister’s home district of Nalanda, is in turmoil,” alleged Choudhary.

Union Home Minister of State Nityanand Rai had approached the state government with the offer of providing additional forces as per requirement but the entire administrative machinery seems to be in a state of sleep, he fumed.

“The imposition of Section 144 in Sasaram is a clear indication that no large gatherings can take place. Hence, the Home Minister cancelled his visit for Samrat Ashok’s birth anniv,” he said.