BJP pillories Nitish govt over non-payment of compensation

The Opposition BJP today pilloried Nitish Kumar government for "turning a blind eye" towards the woes of farmers by not paying them compensation against loss suffered during the recent rains and hailstorm.
The charge was levelled by Leader of Opposition Nand Kishore Yadav in the Legislative Assembly during Zero Hour.
"While the farmers are facing crop loss due to untimely rains, the state government is turning a blind eye to their plight," Yadav said while stressing that state government has not paid the compensation to the farmers.
Later, Yadav told reporters that crops have been damaged due to untimely rains and hailstorm on March 30 last in about 14 lakh hectares of land in Bihar.

Yadav alleged that despite instructions from Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh on April 1, the report of damage from districts was delayed leaving about 19.52 lakh farmers to suffer.
He said despite clear instruction from the Central government, the state government has neither made the payment from its disaster management fund nor sent the report to the Centre for payment of compensation.

Yadav took potshots at the Chief Minister saying "While the Congress, which is supporting the JD(U) in Bihar, is making unsubstantiated allegations at the Narendra Modi government of being anti-farmer, its not saying anything on Bihar."
Taking a jibe at Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for his "Suit-Boot" government barb against NDA government, he asked, "Can Rahul Gandhi who is portraying himself as a great benefactor of farmers differentiate between rose and marigold?"

While BJP members kept accusing the Nitish Kumar government of ignoring farmers' interests in the Assembly, state Agriculture Minister Vijay Chaudhary said his department has sent the damage report to Disaster Management, which would start making payment to the affected cultivators soon.