RJD flays Nitish government move to demolish Bihar Nivas in Delhi
Patna: The RJD on Wednesday strongly criticised the Nitish Kumar govt’s move to demolish the existing Bihar Nivas in Delhi and construct a new building in its place. It alleged the move was simply aimed at removing former CM Lalu Prasad’s name carved on the plaque installed there.
The RJD said the existing Bihar Nivas building was constructed by Lalu in April 1994 during his tenure as the Bihar CM, and the 32-year-old building is still in a very good condition. It said the building can stand strong for the next 50-60 years as it does not have any leakage problem or other issues, but the govt is now trying to demolish it for no reason.
“The issue is only Lalu Prasad’s name on the plaque which the govt wants to remove,” RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav alleged on Wednesday. “A grand, beautiful and strong building is being razed to the ground and more than Rs500 crore are being wasted so that Nitish ji can glorify his name. The extent of this haste is such that he already has hung his plaque on the same wall,” he said.
“When we investigated the reason behind it, we found that there is no technical reason behind this, but rather a despicable political mindset and jealousy. Actually, there is a plaque with Lalu Prasad ji’s name installed in the portico of Bihar Nivas. Whenever vehicles are parked there, the eyes of those in power fall on that name and they get restive,” Yadav alleged.
Stating that the construction of a new building will put further financial burden on a poor state like Bihar, the RJD spokesperson claimed every person in the state is currently in debt of Rs25,000. “From the state treasury, Rs62 crore daily and approximately Rs28,000 crore annually are being spent just to pay interest on debts. Where is the justice in wasting the hard-earned money of such a poor state merely to satisfy one’s jealousy?” he asked.
Dispelling the RJD’s allegation, the JD(U) said the building was being rebuilt to increase space for people wishing to stay there. “Currently, the Bihar Nivas has limited rooms but faces more pressure as it is located near the Central Secretariat. The idea is to increase the number of its rooms to help the people in need,” JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said.
Denying the govt was trying to remove the identity of the former CMs, Kumar said the Beur jail in Patna and Charwaha Vidyalaya in the state still carry the name of Lalu. “Why would we finish his legacy?” he asked.
The RJD said the existing Bihar Nivas building was constructed by Lalu in April 1994 during his tenure as the Bihar CM, and the 32-year-old building is still in a very good condition. It said the building can stand strong for the next 50-60 years as it does not have any leakage problem or other issues, but the govt is now trying to demolish it for no reason.
“The issue is only Lalu Prasad’s name on the plaque which the govt wants to remove,” RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav alleged on Wednesday. “A grand, beautiful and strong building is being razed to the ground and more than Rs500 crore are being wasted so that Nitish ji can glorify his name. The extent of this haste is such that he already has hung his plaque on the same wall,” he said.
“When we investigated the reason behind it, we found that there is no technical reason behind this, but rather a despicable political mindset and jealousy. Actually, there is a plaque with Lalu Prasad ji’s name installed in the portico of Bihar Nivas. Whenever vehicles are parked there, the eyes of those in power fall on that name and they get restive,” Yadav alleged.
Stating that the construction of a new building will put further financial burden on a poor state like Bihar, the RJD spokesperson claimed every person in the state is currently in debt of Rs25,000. “From the state treasury, Rs62 crore daily and approximately Rs28,000 crore annually are being spent just to pay interest on debts. Where is the justice in wasting the hard-earned money of such a poor state merely to satisfy one’s jealousy?” he asked.
Dispelling the RJD’s allegation, the JD(U) said the building was being rebuilt to increase space for people wishing to stay there. “Currently, the Bihar Nivas has limited rooms but faces more pressure as it is located near the Central Secretariat. The idea is to increase the number of its rooms to help the people in need,” JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said.
Denying the govt was trying to remove the identity of the former CMs, Kumar said the Beur jail in Patna and Charwaha Vidyalaya in the state still carry the name of Lalu. “Why would we finish his legacy?” he asked.
Next Story