Lalu indulging in 'political stunt', opposing development: Nitish

New Delhi, Jan 16: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar charged the Railway Miniter Lalu Prasad with indulging in a ''political stunt'' by sheding crocodile's tears for the poor of the state while putting hurdles in the development projects.

Talking to mediapersons after meeting Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia here, Mr Kumar rediculed the RJD ministers, including Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, saying that they just make statements without verifying whether the issue concerned their ministry or not.

The Chief Minister accused the Central government of dilly-dallying in the implementation of the four-lane 890 km long National Highway Development Project Phase III. He said though the announcement was made during the President's rule in April 2005 in the state, the project has not yet taken off.

It has been split into two parts A and B, he informed and said that the implementation of phase A will start this year while B has been sent back to the Committee of Secretaries. Pointing out that the roads concerned were not only the lifeline of Bihar but the entire North East region, Mr Kumar urged the Planning Commission to resolve the issue.

Regarding the Railway Minister planning to hold the meeting of the National Highway Authority of India in February on the road conditions in Bihar, the chief minister said the minister should first look into the duty allocation. The issue falls under the Road Transport Ministry and not railway, he pointed out and said once any minister takes oath, he is first sent duty allocation which is not being adhered by the minister concerned.

''This is all a political stunt of the RJD ministers. They are shedding false tears in the name of poor people of Bihar while putting roadblocks in the development projects. They had put back Bihar by 15 years and now are scared that the state is on the path of progress,'' Mr Kumar said.

During the 90-minute meeting, the chief minister impressed upon the Planning Commission about the insufficient allocation of food grains to Bihar by the Food Ministry. He said as per the Rural Development Ministry, Bihar has about 66 lakh exterme poor people in rural areas while survey is undergoing in the urban areas. However, the Food Ministry has sanctioned foodgrains only for 50 lakh BPL families which include both the urban and rural poor.

The chief minister said that his government is going to a launch a ''Ration and Kerosene Coupons'' from January 26. According to the state government's 16 point parameters, the number of rural poor in the state is estimated to be about 85 lakhs. Pointing out the disparity in the figures of the Food Ministry and the Rural Development ministries, Mr Kumar said that Mr Ahluwalia has assured to find a way out to resolve the inter-ministerial difference so that all the BPL people of the state could benefit from the centrally sponsored PDS system.

The chief minister announced that the Bihar Government is going to launch a new educaiton policy which would be a model for other states. He said that the state government has made appointment of over two lakh primary school teachers and 12,000-13000 other teachers in the state.

Moreover, in all primary schools minimum six rooms, toilet and handpumps for safe drinking water would be made available which was much more the parameters fixed under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan.

Asked whether the exodus of migrant workers from Asom would have impact in Bihar, Mr Kumar said that not many people returned. He said that the state is capable to handle the situation.

UNI