Declare Darbhanga drought-hit dist: Oppn

DARBHANGA: The state government’s decision to declare only 11 out of 18 blocks of Darbhanga district drought-hit has drawn flak from the opposition parties.
The parties have termed the decision as discriminatory and loaded with political favouritism. Members of district unit of RJD farmers’ cell led by district RJD president R N Yadav held a daylong dharna at the collectorate here on Saturday demanding declaration of the entire district as drought-hit.
Addressing the dharna, former Darbhanga RJD MP Mohammad Ali Ashraf Fatmi said, “Scanty rainfall in the entire district has led to drought-like situation.But only 11 blocks got the benefit of the state government and farmers of the rest seven blocks have been left to suffer. Water level too has gone down in these seven blocks. As these blocks are represented by RJD MLAs, hence a stepmotherly treatment has been meted out to these areas at the behest of NDA leaders.”
RJD MLA Abdul Bari Siddiqui echoed the claims of Fatmi and demanded that all 18 blocks should be immediately declared drought-hit. Activists of CPI (ML) also held an agitation at Hanuman Nagar, Bahadurpur and Keoti blocks on Saturday.
Members of the district unit of Kisan Sabha (CPI- affiliate) led by state president of Kisan Sabha Lalan Chaudhary also held an agitation before the district agriculture office on Saturday demanding declaration of the entire district as drought affected. “The district agriculture office forwarded its report without proper inquiry. Out agitation will intensify if the entire Darbhanga district is not declared drought-hit,” said Chaudhary.
A delegation of local Congress workers led by district party president Sitaram Chaudhary on Saturday handed over a memorandum to the district administration demanding declaration of the entire district as drought-hit.