Nitish Kumar slams Centre for discriminating against Bihar

JAMUI: Lashing out at the Centre for discriminating against Bihar by slashing funds under various Central schemes, senior JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar today said he will hit the streets from January 15 next to galvanise party workers as part of the preparations for next year's Assembly elections in the state.

The Central government, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was out to stifle development by drastically slashing funds under Central flagship schemes like MGNREGA and IAY as part of its discriminatory tactics against the JD(U) government in Bihar, Kumar said at his final Sampark Yatra rally at Sri Krishna Singh stadium here.

"The Centre has committed fraud on the people of Bihar by slashing funds meant for the labour component under the MGNREGA," Kumar said.

He said the NDA government at the Centre had also gone back on its predecessor's commitment to sanction a Rs 12,500 crore special package to Bihar and it was not being released due to "vindictive politics" of the NDA government towards the state government.

Turning the heat on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the former Bihar chief minister recalled that Modi had promised to provide special package and special attention during his general election campaigns earlier this year, but turned back on Bihar and its people since voted to power.

Kumar also played audio clips of speeches made by Modi at various rallies in Bihar to buttress his point.

He criticised his erstwhile deputy Sushil Kumar Modi and the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Nandkishore Yadav, saying the two BJP leaders were party to the then NDA government's decision to repair NH roads in Bihar at the cost of Rs 970 crore during the first term of his rule, but went back on their words about pursuing the matter with the Centre for the refund due to the state.