Bhabhua/Buxar: Holding non-Congress governments responsible for Bihar's backwardness during the past 20 years, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday attacked the NDA government for its "failure" to utilise thousands of crores of rupees sent by the Centre to benefit the poor.
"This is time that people of the state decide their future with the elections hardly a couple of days away...the non-Congress ruled governments are responsible for the backwardness and poverty of the state during the past 20 years," she said, without naming the RJD and NDA.
Sonia was addressing election meetings at Bhabhua and Buxar during the last leg of her campaign for the state Assembly elections.
Mounting attack on the Nitish Kumar government, Sonia accused it of making "empty promises and showing sweet dreams to the people."
"But the fact remains that there is unemployment, poverty, backwardness and the people still have to migrate to other places from here in search of better opportunities and their wards are doing exceedingly well outside and serving the nation," she said.
In Bihar, however, the situation is far different, she said, adding that there was no job avenue for youths.
"There is lack of energy which proves to be affecting the agriculture sector and industries...the condition of education and health is also not up to the mark," she said.
Campaigning for the sixth and final phase of polling in Bihar slated for November 20, Sonia raised the issue of multi-purpose Durgawati project in Bihar's Kaimur district and said, "It is unfortunate that the project has not taken off."
"We don't know what politics is going on...the UPA government at the Centre has immensely helped and cleared proposals for the project...but nothing has come off," she said, adding the project could have proved to be highly beneficial to farmers for irrigation.
"Similar is the situation with canals being overlooked hampering irrigation works," she said.
Sonia said the UPA government at the Centre launched a slew of schemes like MNREGA, Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Development Programme, Rural Electrification programmes and waiver of loans for the farmers.
"Here the government says that it is not receiving necessary help from the Centre, though it had provided thousands of crores of rupees to the state," she said adding it was a matter of concern that the benefits of these schemes have not reached the poor.
"For doing good, it requires commitment and support, besides good intention," the Congress President said.
"But here people are busy in promoting family members and engaging in politics of castes and religion," Sonia said without naming RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan.
Lalu has fielded his wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi from Sonepur and Raghopur, while Paswan's two brothers Pashupati Kumar Paras and Ramchandra Paswan are also in the fray.
In a veiled attack on Nitish Kumar, she said, "There is a person in Bihar who claims to be secular and tries to befool the people, but they know it well."
She appealed to the people to vote for Congress in the final round of electoral battle for laying the foundation of a new Bihar.
Campaigning in Buxar, Sonia said the NDA government led by Nitish Kumar owed an explanation to the people as to what happened to thousands of crores of rupees the Centre had provided to the state for its development.
"Development in Bihar is much less than desired...the Centre lent support in providing funds under Bharat Nirman Yojana, MNREGA, Mid-day meal schemes... but the money failed to reach the people," she said.
Apparently referring to Nitish Kumar, she said "here people out of sheer lust for power have understanding with communal forces... we can well call it politics of opportunism."
"They have fooled people during the past five years and now they are seeking another term," she said and asked what was the guarantee that they would not "ditch" the people again.
"They will definitely ditch the people", Sonia said asking them not to trust the NDA and vote for her party for ensuring all-round growth of the state.
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