Declare Bihar drought affected : CPI(ML)

Patna, Sep 1 (UNI) Launching a scathing attack on the NDA government for 'failing' to provide succour to farmers facing drought in Bihar, CPI(ML) general secretary Deepankar Bhattacharya today demanded the state be declared drought-affected.

Addressing party workers at a 'Mahadharna' here, Mr Bhattacharya alleged that the state government had failed to implement welfare schemes for providing relief to people living below the poverty line. ''This when Bihar is facing a drought-like situation,'' he said warning that any incident of starvation death would not be tolerated. The CPI(ML) leader announced that his party would launch 'Ghera Dalo, Dera Dalo' agitation at block levels to press for effective implementation of welfare schemes. ''The party would demand a report from the state government about the status of implementation of food-for-work scheme and distribution of job cards among the beneficiaries,'' he added.

Mr Bhattacharya rapped the government for the 'poor' law and order situation adding atrocities against women, dalits and the poor had increased during the tenure of the Nitish government.

''Excesses were committed against the underprivileged in Nalanda, the home district of the chief minister,'' he said and exhorted the people to ''teach a lesson'' to the NDA during the forthcoming Lok Sabha by-election.

He alleged that crores of rupess were being siphoned off in the name of flood control measures. ''Contractors who had looted crores of rupees meant for developmental projects in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand are now being given contracts in Bihar,'' he said.

UNI XC PL YA DS1555