Narpatganj (Bihar), Oct. 16: The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Saturday charged that Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in Bihar has failed to fully implement the Centrally-sponsored schemes but is taking credit for them.
The Bihar government had failed to implement the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), besides the special scheme for minorities in the state, Dr Singh told an election meeting in Araria district.
“We have repeatedly tried to speed up the pace of progress in Bihar in providing basic needs like electricity, roads and good irrigation facilities. We started giving a special annual package of `1,000 crore.”
“Since 2004, till now, the Centre has given `6,000 crore and for 36 districts the Centre is giving special assistance. These funds could have changed the face of the state... power, roads, education could have been given to the needy, but the government has not fulfilled its duties.”
He said there were instances where the Central assistance did reach the needy districts and people, but, in such cases “the state government misled people by claiming that the schemes were initiated by them.”
“It is unfortunate to know that the state government is taking credit for the schemes of the Central government and their benefits are not reaching those intended,” Dr Singh told the meeting here in this Muslim-dominated belt of Seemanchal.
Holding the past RJD governments and the current one of Nitish Kumar responsible for Bihar’s plight, the Prime Minister said the Congress led by Mrs Sonia Gandhi alone could ensure all-round growth of the state.