"Do not politicise Bihar flood, concentrate on relief": Sharad

Patna, Sep 8 (UNI) JD(U) national president Sharad Yadav today appealed to all political parties to concentrate on providing succour to the victims of catastrpohic flood in north Bihar instead of politicising the national calamity.

Speaking to mediapersons here, Mr Yadav came down heavily on political parties indulged in extracting political mileage from the flood in North Bihar bringing miseries to vast population of the state.

When asked about the allegation levelled against the Nitish Kumar government on its failure to carry out flood protection works leading to breach in Kosi embankment in Kushaha, he said some anti-social elements on other side of the border were creating hurdles in repairing works of the embankment.

''I had talked to Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda on the issue when I was in Kathmandu to participate in his oath taking ceremony on August 17,'' Mr Yadav said and added that he had issued necessary instructions in this regard on that day.

Visibly vexed with allegations and counter allegations by the political parties on circumstances leading to breach in Kosi embankment, Mr Yadav said "Such games were being played perhaps keeping the next Lok Sabha elections in mind and it were affecting the relief and rescue operation in flooded Bihar." Referring to the announcement of Union Minister of State for Water Resources Jai Prakash Narain Yadav on bringing out a white paper on factors leading to breach in Kosi embankment, Mr Yadav said the Nitish Kumar government was doing its works satisfactorily and was also prepared to face the truth.

''I have visited a large number of relief centres in Madhepura and other flood affected districts and felt more efforts should be made by the state government to make it satisfactory,'' he maintained.

UNI KKS-RS ADG DB1917