Nitish government works for all without prejudice, says minister

Patna: Parliamentary affairs minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said the NDA govt under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar has 20 years of track record of working for all sections of society without prejudice.

He was responding to RJD MLA Kumar Sarvajeet in the legislative assembly during Question Hour on Thursday. As soon as the House proceedings began, Sarvjeet objected to rural works department minister Ashok Choudhary’s statement that there will be no work in the areas of those members who brought the cut motion in his department’s budget. The opposition MLAs demanded action against the minister for such a statement. Speaker Prem Kumar assured them to expunge any such remarks from the House proceedings.


The Parliamentary affairs minister, however, said the people of Bihar bear witness to the fact that the NDA govt does not show any bias. “The 20-year track record of the govt led by CM Nitish Kumar is a proven one. We do not show any partiality. Sometimes MLAs from the ruling party or the opposition exchange sarcastic remarks. This should not be taken seriously. Whether people vote for us or not, we have worked for everyone,” he said and assured the House that the govt works impartially for the development of all.

The issue of black marketing of fertilizers was raised by both ruling and opposition members in the assembly. Agriculture minister Ram Kripal Yadav said action is being taken against those involved. “So far, 104 FIRs have been lodged and licences of 419 vendors have been revoked,” he said.

Deputy CM and revenue and land reforms minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said he would launch a special drive in March to get govt land and ponds freed from encroachments. Replying to RJD MLA Rahul Kumar’s statement that the minister wants to bring change, but it seems his own people are pulling his leg, Sinha shot back: “Can anyone shake Angad’s leg? He said the state has 2.62 lakh ponds out of which 17,496 had been encroached. “So far, we have freed 17,000 of them from encroachments,” he said in response to I P Gupta.

Meanwhile, the state govt has plans to establish digital libraries in 85 blocks during the current financial year, IT minister Shreyasi Singh told the House.

Responding to a calling attention motion raised by MLA Alok Mehta, Shreyasi said the initiative aims to improve students’ access to modern study resources and bridge the digital divide across urban and rural areas. She also said buildings and locations for the first phase have already been identified and site selection is in progress across 158 additional blocks.