Bihar:Tejashwi dedicates Rs 886cr AraChapra bridge to people
It was also aimed at resurrecting Prasad’s image as a development man in the face of relentless opposition attacks for the last couple of months.
Putting up a brave front during a function at Doriganj in Chapra to mark the opening of the long-cherished bridge, Tejashwi said his was perhaps the only family witnessing CBI raids for the last three generations. “But, such things cannot cow us down. We emerged even stronger when we were targeted,” he said, as thousands of people waved their hands in support.
Though the programme was organised by Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL) to open the Rs 886crore bridge, connecting Ara-Chapra via NH 30 and NH 19, RJD leaders in the government used it as a political platform to consolidate their position in Prasad’s home turf.
Reminding people about the promises made by PM Narendra Modi at Ara about doling out Rs 1.25 lakh crore for Bihar’s development, Yadav said, “It’s more than three years now and not a single penny could reach Bihar. They (BJP) are the people who forget everything,” said the deputy CM.
“We are relentlessly working for development of the state and empowerment of its people, but the BJP has been trying to drive a wedge in the Grand Alliance (GA) led by Nitish Kumar by fanning misconceptions. Our work is visible on the ground, but the BJP’s achievements are seen only on television and newspapers,” he added.
Tejashwi and other ministers, including Chandrashekhar, Vijay Prakash, Muneshwar Choudhary, Alok Mehta and Chandrika Rai listed as gifts to Lalu Prasad the building of engineering college, polytechnic institutes and ITIs in Chapra and said Chapra would soon have a double decker flyover named after Bhikhari Thakur.
Yadav lashed out at BJP senior Sushil Kumar Modi for attacking his family and said he was ready to discuss at Patna Gandhi Maidan the development Bihar had achieved under the leadership of Nitish Kumar and guidance of Lalu Prasad. Modi should retire from politics, or else he would further damage the BJP, the deputy CM said.
Meanwhile, condition of bridge suggested that it was hurriedly opened to mark the birth anniversary of RJD chief, as only one side of the four-lane bridge was available for traffic while work was still continuing on the other side. “It may take more than a month for the bridge to become fully operational,” said a construction worker.
