PM's allegations baseless: dy CM
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi today said that the allegations levelled by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh against the state's NDA government are "baseless and in bad taste".
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Saturday said that the allegations levelled by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh against the state's NDA government are "baseless and in bad taste".
Talking to reporters here, Modi said, "The allegations levelled by the prime minister against the Nitish Kumar government are baseless and in bad taste. We ask the prime minister to explain as to whether the Centre has not meted out step-motherly treatment to Bihar."
Earlier in the day, Singh had charged that the Bihar government has failed to fully implement Centrally-sponsored schemes but is taking credit for them.
Alleging that even the prime minister did not fulfil his promise to give special package for reconstruction of flood-devastated Kosi belts and rehabilitation of those rendered homeless by unprecedented floods in 2008, Modi said the Centre failed to reach the necessary relief for the deluge victims.
Referring to Singh's statement that the Centre had provided Rs 1,000 crore every year for 36 backward districts in Bihar, Modi said that by doing so, the UPA government has not "bestowed undue favour" upon the state.
"In fact, the erstwhile NDA government decided to provide special package of Rs 1,000 crore every year under the Shram Vikas Yojana to compensate the losses the state incurred because of minerally-rich areas going to Jharkhand after bifurcation," he said, adding that the prime minister has nothing to boast on the issue.
Modi said the oft-repeated statements of Congress leaders that the Centre had been kind enough to provide more funds to the state did not carry any "truth".
"We have been receiving more and more funds from the Centre because of our sincere efforts for financial management as we utilise the funds and submit the utilisation certificates on time," he said.
Rubbishing Singh's charge that Nitish Kumar was taking credits for the schemes financed by the Centre, Modi said there were 40 major schemes launched by the NDA in Bihar and expenses on them were being borne from the state's own resources.
On failure of the state government to implement special schemes for minorities in Araria, he said, "There is no substance in it.
"We have utilised the funds earmarked for minorities for the selected districts and the prime minister, we believe, may not be aware of it."