Counter-punch: BJP slams Cong for not ‘accepting’ development in Bihar

Get out of your habit of delivering monologues without listening to the other side,party tells Congress

The BJP on Monday hit out at the Congress top brass,including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi,saying the party leaders sought to brush aside development in Bihar during the NDA rule even as a host of eminent personalities have acknowledged the state’s progress.

The Prime Minister and the top Congress leaders have sought to brush aside development in Bihar during NDA government’s rule while they were electioneering in the poll-bound state,BJP’s national spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here.

However,Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia,Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Nobel Laureate Amartaya Sen have praised the state government for carrying out development during the past five years,he said.

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“If what Singh and Gandhi and her son Rahul are saying about Bihar is not true,then the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman be sacked by the UPA government for his repeated praise for the NDA government for ushering in development in the state,” he asked.

Castigating UPA government top brass for their deliberate bid to poke holes in the NDA government’s performance by falsifying the truth,Prasad criticised the Prime Minister and the Congress chief for “their habit of delivering monologues” without giving an opportunity to the other side to challenge them in an open debate.

“There should be differences in politics,but there must be a certain standard in public life,” Prasad said while questioning the “lopsided” comments of Congress leaders and ministers,apart from .

The Prime Minister on October 16 criticised Nitish Kumar government for not fully discharging the responsibilities for utilisation of the central assistance,the chief minister had yesterday challenged the Prime Minister for holding an open dialogue on the issue.

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He dared Singh to engage in a live and open debate or appoint an authorised representative for the purpose so that the issue of development could be debated thoroughly with him (Prasad) at the venue and the time to be decided by the latter or his representative.

“I hope the Prime Minister will accept my challenge for debate on Bihar development,” Prasad said.

Referring to the Centre’s frequent allegations about misutilisation of funds meant for development of Bihar,the BJP leader asked the UPA government to issue a white paper detailing allocation of central funds to Bihar since 1990 to 2010 and the utilisation by succeeding governments in the state and expressed confidence that the NDA government will come out with a credit.

The BJP leader attacked the Congress leadership for their association with Lalu Prasad’s RJD during its 15 years’ scam ridden rule of Bihar.