Manoj Jha, Tejashwi Yadav criticise Centre over Bihar flood response ahead of Shivraj Chouhan’s visit

Patna, Sep 16 (IANS) RJD Rajya Sabha MP, Manoj Jha, on Wednesday criticised the Centre over its response to the flood situation in Bihar, as a central team led by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, is arriving in the state to assess the damage.

The central team’s visit today had been announced by Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who said the team would assess the flood situation and damage to crops, houses and infrastructure.

Speaking about Chouhan’s visit, RJD Rajya Sabha MP and chief national spokesperson Manoj Jha, at Patna airport on Wednesday, alleged that the Centre’s response had come late.

“You have arrived very late. Had there been election in Bihar, these 150 people probably would be sitting here. During the election, the entire Cabinet was scrambling, but now, the plight of Bihar is not on their minds. Now they are coming today—I hear they are arriving on a chartered plane. It would have been far better had they spent that money on helping flood victims,” Jha said.

Jha also criticised those advocating the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), saying he had already expressed his party’s position on the issue in Parliament.

“Those talking about the UCC are engaging in ‘dog-whistle politics’,” Jha said.

He also referred to a statement attributed to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, saying Bhagwat had stated that “uniformity is not essential for unity.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, also questioned the purpose of Chouhan’s visit, asking whether the Union Minister was bringing assistance for flood victims or merely coming for a photo opportunity.

Yadav questioned why the Centre had not provided greater financial assistance to Bihar and reiterated his demand that the flood situation be declared a national disaster.

His criticism follows earlier demands for a special package for flood victims and allegations that the Centre has discriminated against Bihar.

Yadav also reiterated his criticism of the government’s approach to Bihar, alleging that the Centre was not doing enough to address the problems faced by people in the state.

The central team led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan will visit flood-affected areas to assess the extent of damage.

The planned programme includes aerial and ground surveys of areas including Dighwara and Maner, along with visits to other affected locations.

A high-level review meeting is also scheduled in Patna to assess relief and rescue operations.

The Centre’s assessment comes amid widespread flooding in Bihar.

Recent reports said nearly 50 lakh people across 15 districts had been affected, with several rivers continuing to flow above danger levels despite water levels receding in some areas.

The assessment is expected to help determine the extent of flood damage and the relief and rehabilitation measures required in the affected areas.

–IANS

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