Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar listens to a complainant at his weekly janata darbar in Patna on Monday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Aug. 1: Chief minister Nitish Kumar today rejected the Opposition’s demand for a CBI probe into the allotment of plots by Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (Biada) but assured strict action in the event of any irregularity coming to the fore.

“I personally do not find any point in handing it (plots allotment) over to the CBI. But there is court and other institutions in our democratic set-up. If they feel otherwise, they can issue their directives,” Nitish said, replying to a query on the Biada controversy on the sidelines of the janata darbar at his official residence here.

Two public interest litigation petitions have been filed in Patna High Court challenging the Biada land allotment at the behest of the Opposition parties.

Speaking for the first time after the chief secretary, Anup Mukerji, submitted his review report on the Biada plots allotment to eight entrepreneurs allegedly related to ministers, IAS officers and politicians, Nitish objected to the Opposition’s tendency to create controversy out of nothing and divert people’s attention.

“Making a mountain out of molehill is an old English adage. But in Bihar, people have the tendency to make the mountain without the moles,” the chief minister said, adding that the Opposition earlier alleged that the government had failed to set up even a needle factory. “Now, they are raising baseless controversies when the entrepreneurs are showing interest in the state,” Nitish said.

The chief minister pointed out that the state had undergone a change in the atmosphere in which people were looking forward to progress and work. “The change in the mindset of the people is irreversible,” he said.

Asked about Lalu Prasad’s comment to move out in the hinterland to “expose” the government, Nitish said: “It is his (Lalu’s) and other opposition parties’ duty to go to the people and question the government’s action. According to the spirit of the mandate, we have been elected to work and they (opposition) are supposed to keep watch on what we are doing.”

The chief minister sarcastically, said: “I will appreciate if he (Lalu) he goes out among the people and questions us. Lekin way antardhyan ho jate hain (but he disappears). As regards me, the people have elected me to work, not to speak.”

Referring to a question related to laxity on the part of police in dealing with the crime, Nitish said: “I have never claimed to set up an ideal state. But I take action when I find complaints from any quarter. The government has asked for the performance assessment of the police personnel at all the levels. Any laxity at any level will not be tolerated.”

The chief minister claimed that the government was consistently and tirelessly working for the improvement of the law and order situation.