Bihar govt not fulfilled duties: PM

Araria (Bihar) : After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday slammed Nitish Kumar government in Bihar for not ?properly utilizing? central funds for development.

?Bihar government has failed to implement Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), as well as a special scheme for minorities,? Singh said at an election meeting at Narpatganj here.

Singh also alleged that Bihar government had misled people on the central fund.

“We have repeatedly tried to speed up progress in Bihar, especially electricity, roads and good irrigation facilities. We started giving a special annual package of Rs 1000 crore. The central funds were projected as state funds before the people,” the PM said.

“Since 2004, the Centre has given Rs 6000 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 added.

Earlier in an election rally, Congress poster boy and general secretary Rahul Gandhi had attacked Nitish Kumar on the developmental front, an area apparently seen as strong point of Kumar.

The 243-member Bihar Assembly goes to a six-phased polls in Oct-Nov beginning with the first phase on Oct 21.

The Congress is fighting the elections alone in Bihar this time.