Patna, Oct. 21: Stung by the JD(U) rebel MP Lallan Singh using Bihar’s first chief minister Sri Krishna Sinha’s birth anniversary yesterday to target him, chief minister Nitish Kumar today hit back, albeit in a subtle manner.

“Let the people of the state decide who has worked more after Sri Krishna Babu,” Nitish said at an official function to mark Sri Krishna Sinha’s birth anniversary.

Lallan had yesterday drawn a parallel between the first chief minister and the present one. He had said: “Sri Krishna Babu opened schools and set up power plants, while Nitish is only interested in setting up billboards. No development has taken place in Bihar under Nitish.”

Some Congress leaders too had attacked the CM describing him to be “inferior” to Sri Krishna Sinha.

Without naming anyone, Nitish said: “The people have given me the chance to do better things in life rather than listen to what some leaders are saying. God has given us limited oxygen to breathe in. We should utilise our limited capabilities to serve the society better.”

Nitish’s deputy Sushil Kumar Modi was sharper on the critics of the state government though. “A similar programme was organised here (SK Memorial Hall) yesterday, where some speakers mocked the state’s growth figures. I must clarify that the state government did not work out the figures. They were released by the Centre,” said Modi.

Lallan had yesterday said the growth figures had gone up because of the construction of multi-storeyed buildings in which corrupt ministers and bureaucrats had invested.

Nitish also announced that a state-level organising committee would be set up to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of Sri Krishna Sinha.