Tejashwi Prasad Yadav slams Bihar govt over bridge collapse

PATNA: The leader of opposition in the state assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, on Friday hit out at the state government after a portion of the bridge almost ready for inauguration was washed away in the current of Kankai river under Dighabank block of Kishanganj district on Thursday.
The bridge is being constructed at the cost of Rs1.42 crore. He also alleged that not even half of the interstate bus terminus (ISBT) in Patna inaugurated by chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday was completed.
“A bridge is constructed after spending crores.But here, bridges get washed away either before inauguration or on the day of inauguration. There are several such incidents of bridges, dams, embankments and roads in Bihar having been caved in. Still no inquiry has been set up or action taken against any official,” he said and alleged corruption in government projects.
On ISBT, Tejashwi said, “Only 40-45% of the work has been done, but the CM inaugurated the ISBT today.”
When asked about LJP’s stand in NDA, he replied, “I will not comment much on this.” But simultaneously, he took a jibe at LJP’s demand over the seats and series of meetings held recently. “I don’t know what was the importance of those meetings, whether to increase or decrease their value,” he said.
Tejashwi again dared BJP to contest alone and said, “The biggest political party in the world, which talks of making India as well as Bihar ‘atmanirbhar’ (self-dependent), is hanging around JD(U).”
Hitting back at Tejashwi, JD(U) state spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said the RJD leader was trying to keep himself in the limelight by raising different issues. He said Kishanganj bridge issue was being investigated. “Since he (Tejashwi) is not aware of what real development means, he keeps uttering all these words. And we do not expect him to even praise us. Kosi Rail Mahasetu inaugurated today has reduced around 300km distance to 22km. As far as ISBT is concerned, people are smart enough and they will not get swayed by the rumours he is spreading,” he said.
JD (U) another spokesperson Arvind Nishad said in the past 15 years under CM Nitish, 6047 bridges have been constructed in Bihar, including 18 mega bridges. “But Tejashwi’s politics is based on negativities.”