Patna Floods: BJP, JDU Lock Horns Over Handling Of Floods In Bihar

JDU on Sunday sought clarification from its ally BJP after union minister Giriraj Singh unleashed an attack on the Nitish Kumar alleging that the state administration is responsible for the "mismanagement" of the flood situation in Patna.

In Bihar, heavy rains have claimed 73 lives. (PTI)

New Delhi: In the wake of floods in Bihar, where at least 73 people have died and Patna being the worst-hit part of the state where normal life has come to a grinding halt, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) alliance in is deep waters as parties have locked horns over 'inept' handling the deteriorating situation in the state. JDU on Sunday sought clarification from its ally BJP after union minister Giriraj Singh unleashed an attack on the Nitish Kumar alleging that the state administration is responsible for the "mismanagement" of the flood situation in the capital city and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar "should take responsibility for it". This has led to skirmishes between the alliance partners, with the JDU finally hitting back at the criticism. JDU General Secretary and National Spokesperson Pavan Verma said, "Whether Giriraj Singh's periodic rants against Nitish Kumar and the NDA government are emanating from the frustration of the individual or he is merely voicing the opinion of the mainstream BJP, must be clarified by the BJP." Singh, who was formerly a member of the state cabinet, said, "Jab taali sardaar ko, to gaali bhi sardaar ko" (the leader gets het praise as well as the blame), when asked about the chief minister and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi coming under attack over the inundation of several parts of the city following torrential rainfall last week. Verma said that this kind of personalised attack on the Chief Minister are "unacceptable" and must be stopped by the BJP as they both are the alliance partners. Also Watch | 9th day into Patna floods, no respite till now Besides, stung by Singh's latest salvo, another leader of the JD(U) came out with a barrage of attacks against Singh and his party. "He (Giriraj Singh) is not even comparable to a speck of dust on Nitish Kumar's feet. One does not become a leader just by chanting the name of Mahadev (Lord Shiva) every now and then," JD(U) spokesman Sanjay Singh fumed. Another party spokesman Rajiv Ranjan Prasad rattled off facts to underscore that the BJP shared a far greater share of the blame for the crisis of Patna. "Ever since the JD(U)-BJP combine has been ruling the state, the urban development portfolio has been with our alliance partner. The Mayor of Patna belongs to the BJP and so do the MPs representing the two Lok Sabha constituencies that cover the district. All the assembly segments in the city have been BJP strongholds since the 19990s," Prasad said. Meanwhile, BJP MP Ram Kripal Yadav also lashed out at the Bihar government saying a system has been put in place in which the bureaucracy is out of control. "Areas of my Pataliputra Lok Sabha constituency are water-logged but when I try to contact officials they do not show the courtesy of even picking up the phone," he said. (With inputs from agencies)