AIIMS Darbhanga Row: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has again slammed the BJP-led Central government over the ongoing issue of AIIMS in Darbhanga and said the Centre does 'invisible development politics'. Taking to X (formerly Twitter, Yadav quoted Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya's tweet and claimed that the Centre did not approve the project even after his government provided 151 acres of land free of cost. He also said that the Bihar government took care of the expense of Rs 300 crore for earth filling.
"Honorable Health Minister, What kind of invisible development politics is this that where the Ministry of Health has not yet finalized the site for AIIMS and respected Prime Minister is saying that AIIMS has been opened there?" Yadav tweeted.
He said that the BJP's health ministers were there in Bihar for years before the time that Mandaviya quoted in his letter. "Perhaps you are pointing out their failure," he added.
"The Bihar government has transferred 151 acres of land free of cost to the Center at a better location like Shobhan bypass, in which the state government is also bearing an additional expenditure of Rs 300 crore for earth filling. We do positive and development-oriented politics, so we have selected the most suitable place only when Darbhanga and other districts get its full benefits, but unfortunately the approval of the Center has not been received yet," the Deputy CM added.
Speaking about Darbhanga Medical College, Tejshwi said, "Would like to inform you that in the prestigious Darbhanga Medical College Hospital established since 1946 #बिहार in Darbhanga itself, the Government of Bihar (569+ 2546) with a total expenditure of 3115 crores (400+2100) 2500 bed super-specialty hospital, modern building And getting the residential complex constructed because we give priority to dynamic development works in public interest rather than negative politics. Thank you."
The controversy began after PM Narendra Modi mentioned about AIIMS in Darbhanga at an event on Saturday. Tejashwi called the PM 'liar' adding that "Today PM Modi said that he has opened AIIMS in Darbhanga. This is a lie. I appeal to PM to first inquire about it and then speak. No AIIMS has been opened in Darbhanga".
Mandaviya had shared a letter by the Ministery of Health and Family Affairs to the Bihar government stating the reason why the land given by the state government could not be used for construction. The letter further asks the state authorities to allocate some other land based on the required criteria.