Chief minister Nitish Kumar flags off the rally in Patna on Thursday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, March 24: Brishen Patel, the information and public relations department minister, came down heavily on the Opposition for accusing the NDA government of spending uselessly on Bihar Divas celebrations.

Patel, who had come to the Bihar Heritage Car Run, organised by the state human resource development (HRD) department said: “Everyone knows how public money was wasted by the RJD leaders when they were ruling till five years back.”

He said the heritage car run is part of the Bihar Divas to highlight the rich cultural heritage and traditions of Bihar, which was known for all the wrong reasons five years back.

Earlier, chief minister Nitish Kumar flagged off the car run in front of Raj Bhavan. Sixteen teams, promoting Bihar’s cultural heritage will travel to New Delhi from Patna and will return on different routes to Patna covering 2,500km.

All the cars bore the logo of Bihar Divas and carried pictures and information related to historical monuments and also the traditions of Bihar.

The 16 teams also have seven women members as navigators. Sumita Shahi, the navigator of a Mercedes Benz, which was the first car to be flagged off, said: “We want to convey the message that Bihar has changed as women here are safer than in other states.”

The Mercedes Benz had pictures and information related to Bodhgaya and the famous Mahabodhi temple. Pranav Shahi, the chairman and managing director of Magadh Motors Sports Club, the partner in the car rally, drove it.

Sharing her experience, Sumita said: “Prior to this car rally, I have also participated in the first car rally by women, seven years back from Patna to Bodhgaya. At that time, the state witnessed Naxalite-related disturbances and it was not considered safe for women to travel.” She added that the scenario has changed and now there is no fear.

Apart from Sumita, there were other women participants. Sheela Mandhyan, a doctor and resident of Allahabad, said: “Though I hail from Uttar Pradesh, I have roots in Bihar and it is a proud moment that we are participating in such a grand event when we can showcase the rich heritage of our state.”

Not only women, even elderly persons participated in the car run. Khagendra Mohan, a 56-year-old farmer, claims his old age doesn’t come in way of the enthusiasm of Bihar Divas and participating in such a car run is fun.

The car run will have 15 major halts including Dhanarua, Jehanabad, Bodhgaya, Sasaram, Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Agra, Delhi and other places.