'Jan Dhan' is old wine in new bottle: Bihar CM

, Aug 29:

Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who was absent yesterday at the launch function of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna, today said Narendra Modi government is trying to draw publicity by renaming an old scheme.

"Its like old wine in new bottle," Manjhi told reporters on "Jan Dhan" yojna launched in the country yesterday, which he could not attend here. "They are trying to draw publicity by renaming an old scheme which was there during Congress as well as our time," he said emerging from a review meeting on law and order in the state.

The Chief Minister, however, praised the concept of providing bank accounts to poor. On his absence from the launch function which drew sharp criticism from Union Food minister Ramvilas Paswan and other NDA leaders, Manjhi said it was due to technical snag in the helicopter due to which he came to Patna late from Jehanabad.

"I did not consciously skipped the launch function. Had I come to state capital on time I would have attended the function," he said. Taking potshots at BJP-led government at the Centre, Manjhi said it believed more on publicity whereas we concentrate on action. "Woh log prachar me biswas karte hai jabki hum kaam me (they believe in publicity whereas we concentrate on action)," he said repeating JD(U) party political line.

Manjhi was scheduled to be present at the launch of the "Jan Dhan" scheme in Patna with Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan yesterday but he could not attend it. After waiting for him for sometime, Paswan launched the scheme.

PTI