RJD chief Lalu Prasad addresses a news meet at his home in Patna on Tuesday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Chief minister Nitish Kumar came under attack from the RJD chief, Lalu Prasad, on Tuesday for his attempt to turn the focus of investors on Bihar.

At a news meet, Lalu also took a swipe at Nitish for playing host to industrialists and entrepreneurs during the Bihar State Industrial Investment Advisory Council meeting on Saturday. “This is not the first time that such meeting has been held in Bihar; it is just an eyewash and no change will take place in Bihar from such meetings. No investor is coming to the state because of several hurdles like power crisis, land problem, corruption among others. Even a needle factory has not been set up in the state.”

Even Nitish’s steps for education of girl child drew flak from the former chief minister. “His claims of distributing cycles and school uniforms using the government funds are also fake; it’s all being done under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan funds by the Centre. You can check the details in the state government’s annual budget,” Lalu claimed.

He accused Nitish of not thinking in the interest of the state. “His government has refused to provide water for the Centre’s proposal to set up a nuclear power plant at Rajauli in Nawada district citing scarcity of water. I want to ask if this is the truth then why he handed over Odhani and Chanan reservoirs to private company and that too without tender?”

On Nitish’s reaction about maintenance of buses donated by him, Lalu said: “I have donated the buses from my MPLAD funds and for the benefit of students at my parliamentary constituency Saran. These buses will help the students make their journey more comfortable. So far as maintenance of the buses are concerned, their parents can make a contribution. I feel Nitish has migraine, which is troubling him as I take these steps.” He added: “The parents have already spending money for the students’ journeys to schools and colleges. That money can be used for maintenance of the buses and salary of drivers.” Lalu has donated 69 buses in 62 academic institutes, spending approximately Rs 9 core on it.

On the FDI in multi-brand retail issue, Lalu said: “It is a matter of discussion now. However, this multi-brand FDI will eliminate the middlemen from the market and farmers can reap better benefit. It will also usher in employment opportunities in the state.”