File Photo: Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan
Union Minister and LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan today hailed the special package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Bihar, saying that it has 'silenced' their rivals.
"PM's special package announcement of Rs 1.65 lakh crore (Rs 1.25 lakh cr announced yesterday and Rs 40,657 cr announced previously) has shut the mouths of Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad and the Congress," Paswan told reporters.
Mr Paswan, who was present at Arrah when the PM announced the package yesterday, rubbished Bihar Chief Minister's criticism of it as "repackaging of old projects."
"Jaise peene wale ko peene ka bahana chahiye, usi tarah se unko PM kas alochana karne ka bahana chahiye (Like alcoholics look for an excuse to drink, he looks for an opportunity to criticise the PM)," Mr Paswan said.
Dismissing Mr Kumar's apprehension on the special package without any budgetary provisions made for it, the Union Minister said, "Things were being worked out for past 6-7 months before the PM announced the special package for Bihar."
Mr Paswan said this was not the last word from the PM on development of Bihar and he would keep coming to the state and add to what he has already announced in the special package.
Criticising Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for raising questions that, on one hand the PM has money to announce special package for Bihar, but nothing for ex-servicemen agitating for One Rank One Pension, he said, "There is no need to mix up the two... Government is committed to OROP."
Asked about the delay in seat-sharing in the NDA camp for Bihar elections, Mr Paswan said. "It will happen soon."
The LJP chief also welcomed the order of Allahabad High Court, which stated that wards of politicians, senior bureaucrats and those in the judiciary should study in government schools.