Patna, Sep 10: Jan Suraj Party founder and Bankipur MLA Prashant Kishor on Thursday hit back at Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary over his “poor” remark, saying he accepted the description as he had no option but to remain committed to improving the state.
Addressing a meeting of Jan Suraj Party workers in Saharsa, Kishor also launched a sharp attack on the NDA government over Bihar’s recurring flood crisis, alleged corruption in relief and embankment works, and the implementation of prohibition.
Responding to Choudhary’s remarks, Kishor said, “Samrat Chaudhary ji called me poor, which is absolutely correct.”
“We are poor because we have no choice but to leave Bihar. We have no option but to resolve to improve Bihar,” he said.
Kishor alleged that Bihar’s future could not be left in the hands of what he described as “illiterate and criminal” people, in an apparent reference to the chief minister.
On the flood situation in Kosi and Seemanchal, Kishor alleged that recurring floods had become a source of income for people in power and questioned the government’s commitment to finding a permanent solution.
“For those in power here, floods are the biggest source of income. There is theft in building embankments, theft when embankments break, and theft in the name of relief work,” he alleged.
He further claimed that annual floods wash away evidence of alleged corruption in the Water Resources Department.
Kishor also criticised the government’s flood-relief efforts, alleging that politicians were using relief distribution for publicity despite the material being funded through public money.
“It’s as if Samrat Chaudhary is distributing money from his father’s pocket,” he said.
He claimed the BJP had Rs 30,000 crore in its bank accounts and challenged the party to withdraw Rs 500 crore from its funds to help flood victims.
“If they really care about the poor of Bihar, they should withdraw 500 crore rupees from their party fund to help the flood victims,” Kishor said.
The Jan Suraj leader also renewed his criticism of Bihar’s prohibition policy, alleging that the ban existed largely on paper and had failed to prevent alcohol addiction.
“Liquor ban has remained confined to paper only,” he said, claiming that alcohol addiction had spread across villages and households and was damaging the lives of young people.
Kishor alleged that the prohibition regime was benefiting corrupt politicians, officials and liquor mafias while causing economic and social losses to the state and its people.
Warning that Bihar could follow the path of Punjab, he said the situation could turn into “Udta Punjab” if the prohibition system was not changed immediately.
