Yatra aims to ensure dominance of `Lok Shakti': CM

PATNA: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Vikas Yatra which began from Bagaha on January 19 will complete one month on February 20 at Kishanganj. It
will be discontinued for over a week due to the budget session of Bihar legislature commencing from February 24.

By that time Nitish will almost complete north Bihar, but the development march in Central Bihar seems unsure as the Yatra will be postponed after the model code of conduct is enforced once the general elections are announced.

Nitish is quite satisfied with his exercise. "The purpose of this Yatra is toensure dominance of `Lok Shakti' (public power) over the `Raj Shakti' (administrative power). This will be a role reversal as earlier `Satta' (power) dominated `Janata' (people)," Nitish told mediapersons at Barbighi in Begusarai where he held a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

The CM was also happy that common man was coming forward to boldly tell him about the state of affairs at grassroot level. When asked if it causes an embarrassing situation for him, Nitish shot back, "I am encouraging people to speak without fear. Earlier, they were discouraged and were even threatened not to speak the truth."

Whatever may be the case, once the people started speaking against the local administration from Patilar, the first stoppage of Nitish's Yatra on January 19, people were encouraged everywhere to take on the local Babus and complain, if any, against the administrative machinery.

"I came to know about the ground realities and people's problems through this Yatra. It is wrong to say that they are unhappy with my government. But they are definitely unhappy with the local administration," said Nitish.

"A positive change will be seen in the governance because of this Yatra," said excise and registration minister Jamshed Ashraf. "Now the local administrative officials are feeling scared and rejuvenating to deliver and do service with justice," he added.

JD(U) spokesmen Vijay Choudhary and Rabindra Singh said, "The success of Vikas Yatra and growing popularity of Nitish has left opposition parties terribly scared and the ground beneath their feet is slipping." On the other hand, there is no dearth of opposition leaders who dismiss the Yatra as mere picnicking and wastage of time and money and misutilization of official machinery.

Nitish said, "There is no politics in this exercise and it will only help tone up the governance and delivery system."
Source : Times of India