JD(U) leader criticises Bihar government

The Hindu Reports:

New Delhi (PTI): Close on the heels of a senior party functionary being removed from an organisational post, another senior JD(U) leader on Thursday openly criticised the party-led Bihar government for not being serious in handling the Kosi floods and subsequent rehabilitation.

"I am not satisfied with the manner in which the Bihar government handled the post-flood situation in the state," three-time Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra told reporters here.

Mishra met President Pratibha Patil today and handed over a memorandum on post-flood rehabilitation.

"During the last five months, only 8 lakh quintal of foodgrain and Rs 192 crore have been distributed among the 33.33 lakh people affected by the devastating Kosi floods. Even though the Central government had released 1.25 lakh tonnes of foodgrain and Rs one thousand crore to Bihar government for distribution to the affected people, the relief amount distributed by the state government is extremely inadequate," the memorandum states.

He said while the Nitish Kumar government has sought more funds from the Centre, it has failed to provide any project reports where the money will be utilised.

Asked why he had skipped the Janata Dal (United) 'chintan shivir' (introspection camp) in Rajgir, Bihar and come to Delhi, Mishra said, "I thought it is more important to apprise the President of the situation in flood-affected areas".

Amid speculations that Mishra might return to the Congress fold, he said expulsion from the JD(U) was hardly an issue for him.