Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on “package” saying he made such “shallow” comments as he was “disturbed” due to fall in the GDP and Sensex in the country under his rule.
“Can the Centre stop the money given to States from Finance Commission? This money is from internal resources of the States. Will the Prime Minister of the country make such a shallow remark?
“The GDP under the Government of India is falling. Sensex has fallen. I think he is definitely disturbed otherwise why a Prime Minister should speak like this,” Mr. Kumar told reporters.
His remarks came after Mr. Modi, who addressed a rally in Bhagalpur on Tuesday, accused Mr. Kumar of having “cheated” the people with the so-called development package of Rs 2.7 lakh crore, insisting it was merely the sum of annual budgets of Rs 50 to 55 thousand crore each year over five years.
Mr. Modi said the development proposals worth Rs 1.25 lakh crore promised by the Centre was beyond Rs 3.75 lakh crore that the State would get towards its annual budget from the Finance Commission.
“It needs to be asked where would the rest of Rs 1.76 lakh crore go if the State only gives Rs 2.7 lakh crore. Will it go the fodder scam way,” Mr. Modi said.
