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Union Minister of State for Communications and Technology Sachin Pilot on Friday charged the National Democratic Alliance government in Bihar with misuse of central funds worth over Rs 11 crore under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and other flagship programmes for the poor.
Nearly Rs 11,412 of the over Rs 95,000 crore allocated by Centre for implementing central flagship programmes, including MNREGA, have been misused and looted by the state government to deprive the poor people of their dues, he told reporters here.
A day after the high court in Patna ordered a CBI probe into misappropriation and illegal withdrawal of Rs 11,412 crore from state treasury by the state governments since 2002, Pilot demanded a speedy investigation by the central agency to bring the culprits to book.
"The NDA government will not succeed in either influencing or creating obstacles in the way of the CBI investigation into the alleged misappropriation of the central funds," the Union minister said.
Pilot, who arrived in Patna on a two-day visit to boost electoral prospects of his party in the forthcoming assembly polls, also accused the NDA government, particularly Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, for misusing public money for publicity of its "exaggerated" performance.
With the assembly polls round the corner, the state government has been wasting public money on advertisement and publicity to carry out a "false propaganda" of its achievements and building an image for the chief minister, he said.
"Entry of tainted leaders like Md Taslimuddin and other criminal elements are indicative of desperation setting in the ranks of ruling coalition in Bihar," Pilot said.
On the Janata Dal-United's jibe at the Congress for sending central ministers in Bihar at the time of elections, Pilot said the ministers were active members of their party and entitled to visit any state at any time to boost their party's electoral prospects.
The Union minister expressed optimism about a strong performance by the party in assembly polls due later this year and said Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi would visit the state soon to campaign for the party.
The multitude of aspirants from each assembly seat in Bihar also bodes well for the Congress in the polls, he said.
Pilot also charged Bihar chief minister for taking exception to publication of an advertisement showing him with his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi and alleged that the former had tried to stir a controversy for political benefits.
Kumar had never raised objections to it earlier, but chose the occasion of BJP meet last month to take umbrage in order to seek political mileage, he alleged.