Patna, Sep 13: Bihar Leader of Opposition and RJD working president Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday accused the Centre of adopting a “stepmotherly” attitude towards the flood-hit state and alleged that the Bihar government had failed to secure an adequate relief package.
Addressing a press conference here, Yadav targeted Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Union ministers from Bihar, questioning their efforts to obtain central assistance for the flood-affected population.
Yadav said he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 7, demanding that the floods in Bihar be declared a “national disaster” and seeking immediate financial assistance of Rs 5,000 crore.
“Whenever there are floods in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives quick assurances of relief, talks to state leadership and directs deployment of relief forces, including the Indian Air Force,” Yadav alleged.
“However, there is a step-motherly treatment towards Bihar where he comes during election campaigns and eats ‘litti chokha’,” he said.
Yadav also questioned the functioning of the BJP-led “double-engine” government in Bihar, alleging that it had failed to secure sufficient assistance from the Centre.
“The engines of the ‘double-engine’ government in Bihar have failed. I am not aware of how often the CM talks to PM Modi, and wonder why he has not been able to secure central assistance,” he said.
“There are many Union ministers from Bihar, but none has the influence to bring central help to Bihar,” Yadav alleged.
The RJD leader further claimed that he had not received any response to letters written to the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister regarding the flood situation.
Yadav also drew a comparison with the Centre’s response to floods in Gujarat, alleging that relief assurances and deployment of resources were made more promptly there.
“Just like PM has ignored Bihar in times of flood, people will ignore him in the future,” he claimed.
The allegations come amid the ongoing flood situation in several parts of Bihar, with the opposition seeking greater central assistance for relief and rehabilitation.
