Implement central schemes properly, Congress tells states

In a veiled criticism of the Bihar government for the deaths of school children who ate mid-day meals, the Congress Wednesday said states not implementing central schemes properly was a matter of concern.

Congress leader and Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said: "States implement schemes of the central government. If they do not implement them properly, it is a matter of concern."

He said the deaths of children were "unfortunate and painful".

He added: "It is necessary that there should not be politics over this."

Twenty-one children have died after eating a mid-day meal in their school in Bihar's Saran district. Ten children are battling for their lives in a Patna hospital, according to officials.