NDA Leaders Fire Back at the Opposition
Patna: Aug. 1, 2007
 Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, reacting at the comments of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Bihar's flood situation, said Yadav, in the name of flood relief, was once again trying to score cheap political points though the people of Bihar were too smart to fall in his trap again.
"The Railway Minister thinks that it was only he who knew anything about providing relief to the flood victims but people of Bihar have not forgotten that it was under his rule the nation saw the biggest scam in flood relief resulting in the death of thousands of people in the state. Now he has the audacity to lecture us on how to tackle flood in Bihar. Where was his wisdom when he and his wife ruled the state for years during which hundreds of thousands people died in flood?" Modi demanded to know.
 "Lalu Prasad is once again engaging in drama by shedding crocodile tears over flood situation in Bihar. We had done our homework to ask for a special package for Bihar to combat flood in the state but it was Yadav who coerced Prime Minister Manmohan Singh into canceling his scheduled trip to Bihar on July 17. Now he is showing his sympathy for flood victims but anyone who knows Lalu knows it is nothing but cheap political stunt to win back voters in Bihar," Modi said.
The Deputy Chief Minister further accused Yadav of sabotaging flood relief operation in Bihar.
"Instead of offering cooperation in flood relief works in Bihar, Lalu and his men are working overnight to ensure relief does not reach in many affected areas," Modi said adding Lalu and company had not provided one paisa from the central funding and whatever money was coming to Bihar was coming through the provisions made in the 12th Finance Commission.
"But this does not stop Lalu and company from taking credit for flood relief and discrediting the NDA government in Bihar," the Deputy CM said.
"In 15 years, the RJD failed to construct even an inch of embankment to contain flood in the state whereas in mere a year and a half, the NDA government has built 44 kilometers of embankment in Bihar. These are facts for anyone to check but apparently the RJD leaders are unable to see them," Modi went on.
Janata Dal (U) state president Rajiv Ranjan Singh, a.k.a. Lallan Singh also lashed out at the opposition leaders saying they had only one thing in mind and that was how to discredit the Nitish government and grab power in Bihar.
"These people were never interested in rescuing Bihar from the curse of flood. Last 15 years have proven that and we don't need lectures or certificates from those who themselves are accused in the multi-crore rupees flood relief scam," Singh said.
"Bihar has experienced record rain this year and it is only natural that things would not be as smooth as expected but the RJD leaders, instead of stepping forward to offer genuine help, are instead engaging in political gimmickry and shedding crocodile tears," the JD-U leader said.
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