Ironical that Lalu chief guest at Sri Babu Cong function, says Bihar deputy CM Sushil Modi

Two ‘parallel’ functions were organised in Patna on Saturday to mark the 130th birth anniversary of Sri Krishna Sinha, Bihar’s first chief minister, as political rivals competed with each other for his political legacy.

Rival claims for appropriating the political legacy of Bihar’s first chief minister Sri Krishna Sinha, saw two ‘parallel’ functions being organised in the state capital on Saturday to mark the late leader’s 130th birth anniversary.

Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad (2nd from right) and other top NDA leaders, in Patna on Saturday. (Santosh/HT photo)

On the one hand, Congress leader Akhilesh Prasad Singh organised a function at Gyan Bhawan in nothern Patna, at which RJD chief, Lalu Prasad, was chief guest. It was attended by BPCC acting president Kautab Quadri, former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and AICC leader Shakeel Ahmad, among others.

A separate function was organised at S K Memorial by NDA leaders, which was attended by among others Bihar’s deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi and former minister and MLC Mahachandra Prasad Singh.

Modi used the occasion to hit out at the Congress and Lalu Prasad, a former Bihar chief minister, saying the two entities had shattered the dreams of Sri Babu. “Lalu Prasad and Congress had a big role in closure of Barauni refinery, Barauni thermal power station and the fertilizer factories,” he added.

Singh had been organizing Srikrishna Singh’s jayanti function every year and this year he invited Lalu Prasad to be chief guest at the function.

Modi said the present NDA government in Bihar, in which he was deputy CM, was committed to fulfill the dreams of Sri Babu. “The work of Barauni fertilizer factory will begin in November. When the NDA first came to power in Bihar in 2005, it started production in Barauni thermal power station,” said Modi.

Speaking on the occasion, former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi said instead of just remembering Sri Babu on his birth anniversary, people should propagate his thoughts and ideals among the masses..

“Sri Babu brought in land reforms laws and worked against the zamandari system. He allowed entry of Dalits at Deoghar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva but even today, temples are washed after a Dalit’s visit,” said Manjhi.

He took a dig at Lalu Prasad and said that instead of introducing welfare measures for others, he definitely served the welfare of his sons and daughters by making them millionaires.

Earlier, Meghalaya governor Ganga Prasad inaugurated the function. Speaking on the occasion, Mahachandra Singh demanded that the state government recommend Sri Babu’s name for Bharat Ratna and rename Patna University after him.