JD-U leader blames ally ministers for unutilised funds

A ruling JD-U leader has directly blamed Bihar ministers from alliance partners RJD and Congress for not utilising funds in as many as 182 development schemes in the last fiscal.

This had led to the surrender of the funds, Ajay Alok of the Janata Dal-United said and also cautioned Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over it. The Chief Minister would have to bear responsibility for it, he said.

At a time when speculations are rife that everything is not smooth in the ruling Grand Alliance of the JD-U, Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress, former JD-U spokesperson Ajay Alok has added fuel to the fire.

In a tweet, Alok said: "182 project? Not a single penny spent, 11,000 crore lapsed, do u know most departments from Cong(ress) and RJD but responsibility is ours - mainly Nitish Kumar's."

According to a latest Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, the state government did not spend a single penny in the 182 development schemes in the fiscal 2015-16, leading to the surrender of the funds allocated for them.

The CAG has described it as a result of "improper budget estimation" and inability to utilise funds.

Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also targeted the state government after the CAG report on Monday revealed that Rs 24,456 crore was surrendered, while a sum of Rs 10,557 crore was allowed to lapse.

Alok said a 22 per cent increased tax collections has brought some cheers due to the efforts of Nitish Kumar but the overall governance has to be looked after.

Local Hindi dailies reported that RJD chief Lalu Prasad was unhappy with Nitish Kumar over his style of functioning and closeness to the BJP.

Even Congress leaders are not happy with the JD-U for its attempt to project Nitish Kumar as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2019 general elections without consulting the Grand Alliance.

The RJD had expressed its displeasure at Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Prasad Yadav not being invited at the Bihar Diwas function on March 22 here. He is younger son of Lalu Prasad.

--IANS

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