Sultanganj: Tej Pratap Yadav on Tuesday attacked the government for mismanaging facilities for Shravan devotees at the riverbanks here.

The former health minister arrived in Sultanganj, around 210km from Patna, in the morning. He collected water from the Ganga at the slippery riverbank before proceeding to Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar 105km away in his motorcade.

"The poor condition of ghats and the surroundings indicates the state government's failure to make adequate arrangements for the pilgrims. I heard that one kanwariya (devotee) recently died here after falling on the slippery slopes. Daily, many kanwariyas sustain injuries falling here," Tej said.

When Tej reached the east Bihar town around 11am and went to Marwari Dharmasala to refresh, his aides had told journalists "he (Tej) will not speak about political issues" but soon the RJD leader became vocal against the administration.

"I am going to Baidyanath Dham to seek Lord Shiv's grace on my father and family members. I will also pray for blessings for people of Bihar and for the state's prosperity," he told after collecting water from the Ganga at Sultanganj's Ajgaivinath Temple.

Elaborate security arrangements were made for Tej, as several of his supporters reached the ghat to see him. On the kanwariya route, too, people waited to greet him. "It's all drama, political drama to mobilise supporters and point out where the government has been inadequate," whispered one young kanwariya from Chhattisgarh, who was prevented to bathe in the river because Tej was performing Shravan rituals there.

Before leaving, mediapersons asked Tej how did his loyalties shift from Lord Krishna. "You people always try to create confusion, and develop dispute among people on religion and caste lines," Tej shot back. "But please don't try to create confusion between Krishna and Shiv, they are all the same. I am going to pray for all of Bihar."