Centre treating Bihar as stepchild: Tejashwi Yadav on flood-related issues
The LoP in Bihar said that over 48 lakh people are affected by the recent floods, but the ‘double-engine’ government is not serious about this matter as both engines have caught fire
Bihar's Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has criticized both the state and central governments for their lack of response to the recent flood crisis, suggesting that Bihar is being treated as a "stepchild." Yadav, who is also the Rashtriya Janata Dal National Working President, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting the Bihar floods be declared a national disaster, along with compensation and a special economic package for affected families. However, Yadav claims the central government has shown no seriousness in this matter so far.
According to Yadav, over 48 lakh people have been affected by the floods, but he has reportedly written to Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary without success. He alleges that the "double-engine" government in Bihar, with its eight NDA ministers and 30 Lok Sabha MPs, is not taking the issue seriously, as if both parts of the government have "caught fire."
Yadav points out that Bihar's treasury is empty, with ₹4,000 crore withdrawn from the Contingency Fund in July for salaries and administrative expenses. He claims that during the Kosi floods in 2008, his father, then Union Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad, secured a special package for Bihar, which included visits from then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress National President Sonia Gandhi.
Yadav contrasts this with the current BJP-led government's handling of the situation, suggesting that their attitude reveals their mindset.
In comparison to Gujarat, where immediate relief camps and assistance are set up during rainfall, Yadav argues that Bihar is being neglected. He also claims that leaders of the BJP and central government consistently ignore Bihar's people during disasters, only visiting for electoral gains. Yadav asserts that Bihar is being treated as a "stepchild," receiving no assistance from BJP-ruled states, and when Prime Minister Amit Shah speaks of making Bihar flood-free, it is evident that he is absent when over 47 lakh people are trapped in the disaster's devastation.
Yadav, while visiting the flood-affected areas, shared an anecdote about the boat provided by the State Disaster Response Force deflating in the middle of the river, forcing villagers to rescue him. As Leader of the Opposition, Yadav has demanded that the government provide aid and financial assistance to the flood victims.
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