"Best Available Land Given": Nitish Kumar Amid Row Over Bihar AIIMS

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday asserted that the state government has provided the "best available land" for the construction of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Darbhanga and it is "well connected".

He also wondered whether the Centre wants to delay the project.

The chief minister's statement came two days after Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya alleged that the land provided by the state government is not suitable for the construction of the premier hospital.

"When the Centre decided to construct AIIMS in Darbhanga in 2015, the state government provided land near Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). We proposed that the DMCH be converted into AIIMS. Initially, they accepted it, but later raised some objections.

"The land which the state government provided later for AIIMS is the best available land and well connected," Mr Kumar told reporters.

The state government has decided to expand the DMCH on the lines of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).

"The land provided by the state government for AIIMS is close to the Darbhanga airport also. God knows why they (the central government) refused the land. It seems they want to delay it. Their intention is doubtful," said the chief minister.

If the Centre wants to construct an AIIMS in Darbhanga, it will have to be constructed on the same land given by the state, he asserted.

"Otherwise, they are free to do whatever they want. We are building medical colleges everywhere in the state. The AIIMS first came to Patna and the next AIIMS should be in Darbhanga, this is what we want," said the CM.

Whatever development is coming up in Bihar, it is being done by the state government without any contribution by the Centre, Kumar asserted.

He said that his government is building roads, bridges, colleges and institutions on its own.

Mr Kumar also dismissed speculation that he plans to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Phulpur in Uttar Pradesh.

"These are all rubbish. My only wish is to unite the maximum number of (non-BJP) parties before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Let me tell you that many more political parties will join the INDIA group," he said.

Mr Kumar also asserted that several parties are with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) "only out of fear".

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)