Congress stages demonstration against Nitish government

Patna, Jul 3 (UNI) The Bihar Congress today staged state-wide demonstrations against the Nitish Kumar government for its 'failures' on all fronts during its seven- month tenure.

Party's chief spokesman of the state Kripa Nath Pathak alleged that the NDA government had failed to fulfil its prepoll promises and was only engaged in making hollow announcements. He said the NDA had promised to check criminal activities within three months of coming to power but kidnappings and murder still continued.

Mr Pathak further alleged that the state government had failed to utilise central funds released for different welfare schemes and infrastructural development. He said Rs 2200 crores were given by the Centre for Prime Minister's rural road construction projects but the state did not utilise the funds and rural roads were in poor shape. ''Due to lack of will power and unbridled bureaucratic hurdles, it appeared impossible that the state government would be able to utilise these funds,'' he added.

The Congress leader said demonstrations were staged at block levels throughout Bihar, barring four blocks, where panchayat elections were scheduled to be held in a day or two. On July 10, the party would organise dharnas at district levels if the government failed to mend its ways, he said.

State level protests would be orgainsed in Patna. He, however, made it clear that the aim of the party was to apprise the people of the functionings of the government before it completed one year of its tenure.

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