Congress has done "gross injustice" to Bihar, BJP

BJP today accused Congress of dishing out "gross injustice" to Bihar during the 56-month NDA rule in the state.

BJP spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters in Patna, "This is the for the first time in Independent India that there is no no representation of member from Bihar in the Union Cabinet".

He asked whether the Congress had any right to take credit for the state's development when there was no no representation from the state in the Union ministry.

Criticising Congress ministers at the Centre for making "irresponsible" statements about central assistance to Bihar, the BJP leader said the centre had denied the state's right to utilise the opportunities of investment worth crores for manufacturing ethanol through sugarcane juice.

Similarly, the centre had blocked the way for proposals for setting up thermal power projects in Bihar by not providing required coal linkages, he said.

"The centre has restricted use of Ganga water for power projects in Bihar which is yet another case of injustice", he said.

Asserting that development activities were put on rails because of untiring efforts made by the NDA government led by Nitish Kumar during the past 56 months, Hussain ridiculed the Congress for taking credit for it "instead of seeking apology."

He said the drastic cut in the Gross Budgetary Support and plan heads by the Congress at the centre was yet another glaring example of the neglect to the state.

Hussain said the Centre should declare a financial package for drought-hit districts in Bihar before the model of conduct for elections comes into force after Election Commission declares the poll schedule.

On whether Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi too would campaign for the alliance in Bihar, Hussain, while evading a direct reply, said " every small to top worker of BJP from Kanyakumari to Kashmir are in favour of pushing the NDA to return to power again.

The BJP national executive, he said, would meet in New Delhi on September 18 and 19 to chalk out electoral strategy for Bihar.