Bihar clarifies to Centre's objection over Kosi probe panel

Patna, Sept 26 (UNI) The Bihar government today categorically stated that the judicial committee for probing into the reasons for breach in Kushaha embankment over the river Kosi had nothing to do with the adjoining country Nepal.

Bihar Water Resources Minister Vijendra Prasad Yadav told newspersons here that the Centre, in a letter on September 24, voiced its objection and questioned over the legal rights of the committee formed on September 10.

Quoting the comments of the External Affairs Ministry, the Union government stated that the Kosi Agreement was inked between the two nations- India and Nepal, adding Bihar was not at all party to it.

It also informed that both the countries should jointly probe in case of any breach in the agreement in such circumstances.

Mr Yadav said the Centre's letter further read that the Nepal governmnt was not consulted before forming the committee.

''The Bihar government has already clarified in a letter to the Union Water Resources Minister that the probe has nothing to do with Nepal,'' the minister informed.

''In the wake of allegations made by several Union ministers who have held the state government guilty for the breach in the embankment, it is the responsibility of the latter to expose the truth in public. In this directoin, the judicial committee is formed,'' Mr Yadav maintained.

Meanwhile, the RJD blamed ruling JD(U) MP and spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari for diverting the attention of the people from the the flood victims' plight by making unnecessary statements over secularism.

RJD national General Secretary and Spokesperson Shyam Rajak alleged that on one hand, the JD(U) leaders, including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Mr Tiwari, were supporting the candidature of BJP leader L K Advani as Prime Minister. On the other hand, they were criticising their alliance partner BJP over issues of communalism, according to him.

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