MJ Akbar lashes out at Nitish Kumar for mocking PM's package to Bihar

Patna, Sep 7: Senior BJP leader M J Akbar on Monday hit out at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for mocking the Rs 1.25 lakh crore central package for the state asking him to explain as to why the earlier schemes were not implemented by the previous UPA government.

"Nitish Kumar has described the Prime Minister's Rs 1.25 lakh crore package for Bihar as 'repackaging of old schemes' ... instead of questioning (Narendra) Modi, Kumar should explain as to why old package was allowed to stay old and not implemented," he told reporters.

"Were the people of Bihar not entitled to infrastructure development during the previous UPA government?" Akbar asked and stated that the so-called old package never saw the light of the day.

Charging the chief minister with being derisive about the PM's package for Bihar, the senior BJP leader claimed that it was the same Nitish Kumar who had gone over the moon after announcement of Rs 12,000 crore package by the UPA government couple of years ago against the JD(U)'s campaign for special status.

Trashing the chief minister's denouncement of the Bihar package and Akbar said Kumar has lost control over his thought and voice and has become nervous about the outcome of the forthcoming Assembly polls.

On the Samajwadi Party (SP)'s decision to part ways with the grand alliance, he said the development was on expected lines as the constituent parties were "not together with heart and mind".

The grand alliance was a non-starter to begin with as its constituents - RJD, JD(U) and SP - had tried hard for merger which did not take place in the first place forcing these parties to go for alliance which too had fallen apart, Akbar, a veteran journalist, said.

"Let us see what awaits in future as far as the shape of grand alliance is concerned," he said.

Nailing the grand alliance further, Akbar said there was a need for a stable government to usher in good governance and development in Bihar, which this alliance would not deliver.

The grand alliance could give only "jungle raj" and not development, jobs, law and order, he added.

On the seat-sharing formula among the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners, the senior BJP leader said the matter would be settled amicably by all constituents together.

Asked about the NDA's chief ministerial candidate for Bihar, he said that the BJP had left the decision on the Prime Minister who might take a final call in this regard.

On asked about inclination of Muslim voters in the forthcoming polls, Akbar exuded confidence that the youths of all communities, including the minorities, would vote for the NDA as they wanted development, jobs and bright prospect ahead and not spectre of darkness which has dogged the state for decades.

PTI