Patna: RJD working president and leader of opposition in the state assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Sunday accused the NDA govt at the Centre of adopting a “discriminatory policy” towards flood-hit Bihar and its more than 45-lakh affected people across 15 districts.“I have written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pleading that the floods in Bihar be declared a national disaster. I also sought compensation for flood-affected people and a special economic package for assistance, but no seriousness has been accorded to it,” Tejashwi told reporters at his official residence here. He said a similar letter to chief minister Samrat Choudhary had also received no response.He said Bihar has seven ministers in the Union cabinet and 31 Lok Sabha MPs from the NDA, but alleged that they had failed to ensure special assistance from the Centre for the state.Recalling the Aug 2008 Kosi flood disaster, Tejashwi said then RJD chief Lalu Prasad had played an influential role in securing central assistance for Bihar from the Congress-led UPA govt. “Both former PM Manmohan Singh and ex-Congress president Sonia Gandhi had visited Bihar and done justice to the flood-ravaged people,” he said.Alleging discriminatory treatment by the Centre, Tejashwi said BJP-ruled states received central assistance while Bihar’s case had been ignored. He also referred to Union home minister Amit Shah’s election-time assurance that a lasting solution would be found to Bihar’s annual flood problem.Tejashwi further alleged that the state govt’s coffers had depleted, forcing it to draw Rs4,000 crore from the state contingency fund to pay employees’ salaries and meet other expenses.He also alleged that an unsafe boat was provided for his visit to flood-affected areas of Raghopur assembly constituency. “The boat deflated and the village people helped me to safety,” he said.
