From Patna, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has fiercely criticised the Central Government, alleging a discriminatory approach to flood relief efforts in Bihar. Speaking on X, Yadav drew a sharp contrast between the Centre's rapid response to disasters in Gujarat and its perceived inaction during Bihar's ongoing inundation.
Yadav detailed instances where even limited rainfall in Gujarat prompted immediate attention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He cited swift coordination with the state government, deployment of the Air Force and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), an aerial survey by the Prime Minister, a Rs 500-crore relief package, and Rs 2 lakh assistance for victims' families. Conversely, he highlighted Bihar's severe situation: over 50 fatalities, thousands of cattle missing, losses reaching thousands of crores, and approximately 45 lakh people affected. "Neither the Prime Minister nor the Home Minister has uttered a single word, let alone provided aid," Yadav stated, also claiming no phone calls occurred between Modi or Shah and Bihar's Chief Minister.
The RJD leader also questioned the Centre's classification of disasters. He pointed out that while rain-related deaths in Gujarat receive assistance, lightning strikes – which claim hundreds of lives annually in Bihar – do not feature on the list of national disasters, thereby denying central compensation to victims' families.
Yadav extended his criticism to Bihar's own BJP and NDA leaders. He expressed dismay at the silence of the state's 30 MPs and seven Union ministers, recalling a time when former Chief Ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar, despite their political rivalry, united to champion Bihar's rights during crises. "Now, however, the 30 MPs and seven Union Ministers are all mute, deaf, and blind; they cannot even speak up for their own rights," he alleged. The opposition, Yadav confirmed, has consistently raised these concerns since the crisis began and formally requested assistance from the Prime Minister.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Mangalorean News