CM slammed for charge against Centre on Sikh guru event

Opposition BJP today criticised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for alleging that the Centre did not extend any assistance in celebration of 350th 'Prakash Parv' of Sikh guru Govind Singh here.
"By levelling baseless allegation, Nitish Kumar misused a non-political event yesterday for his political purposes," senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said in a statement here.
Addressing International media on the eve of a three- day Sikh conclave starting from today, the Bihar CM had yesterday lamented that despite writing to the Centre five years back to provide assistance for hosting the event in Patna, no help came.
"We made all the arrangements for the grand event from our own limited resources as part of our duty," he had said.

"Despite meeting Kumar, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not extend any help whereas the present NDA government at the Centre has richly rendered assistance for the mega occasion of the Sikh community," Sushil Modi said.
"The NDA government is spending Rs 100 crore for 350 th Prakash parv of Guru Govind Singh while BJP-Akali Dal coalition government of Punjab is spending another Rs 100 crore for the occasion," he said.

"Out of Rs 41.53 crore PRASAD scheme of the Centre, a total of Rs 20.76 crore has been released for development of Patna Saheb town so far," he said.

Twelve cities across the country including Gaya in Bihar have been identified for development under Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) by the Ministry of Tourism last year.
The CM should have avoided indulging in politics on such occasion, Modi added.