Patna: RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Friday claimed the state government had "wasted" over Rs 60 crore for the now-cancelled power ministers' conference that was to be held in Rajgir on Friday and Saturday.

He alleged the scrapping of the event was the BJP's way of getting back at chief minister Nitish Kumar who had cancelled a dinner for party leaders in June 2010.

"Yesterday at 2.30pm the conference of power ministers was cancelled from Delhi. What is the reason behind it? Is it because of Nitish who too had once pulled the plate of BJP leaders or is it because Nitish was thinking of taking credit for organising such a programme?" Lalu asked.

Bihar officials were working continuously for the past few days in preparing for the event, which the state was to host for the first time. The government had also made arrangements for cultural programmes in the evening for the ministers and officials coming from different states.

Singer Sonu Nigam and his team were hired for Rs 60 lakh, they have even reached Patna along with their team members," Lalu claimed. "They all came by flight and are staying in Maurya hotel and getting free food and lodging. Many power ministers have even reached Patna and some are on the way. Nitish must explain why such a big event was called off at the last minute. The state's money was just wasted."

Lalu claimed the government was searching for another place in Patna to hold the cultural event as Nigam will not return his fee. A senior official at Maurya confirmed that the singer had checked in at the hotel.

Lalu said Nitish visited Rajgir twice to check the preparations and the government had made detailed arrangements. "From Patna to Rajgir, all the power substations left and right of the road was revamped. Free LED bulbs were distributed among the villagers near Rajgir and even the mountain of Rajgir was decorated. Was the event cancelled on the instruction of the PM? This shows that BJP has scant regard for Nitish," Lalu alleged.

He rubbished the official reason cited for the cancellation, a Union cabinet meeting called by the PM.

"The conference was for not Union cabinet ministers, it was a conference of state power ministers," Lalu pointed out. "It was a two-day event, R.K. Singh (Union minister of state who was to inaugurate the event) could have come on the second day or sent the power secretary."