'Development' unites political adversaries

Nitish, Paswan, Lalu 'unite' for Bihar's development

BEGUSARAI: For the first time after years, they shared the dais. That, however, didn't prevent Bihar politics' bigwigs -- CM Nitish Kumar (JD-U) and Union ministers Lalu Prasad (RJD) and Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP) -- from taking potshots at one another.

The occasion was the foundation-laying ceremony for the reconstruction of the closed Hindustan Fertiliser Corporation plant at Barauni. In keeping with the occasion, the trio swore they are united for the development of Bihar. But the political overtones were more than pronounced in their speeches.

Railway minister Lalu was the first to speak and he showered lavish praise on his cabinet colleague and Union fertiliser minister Paswan for reviving the closed fertiliser unit. ''It is only due to the massive effort of Paswan that this closed unit has been able to see this day,'' Lalu said and added there is no politics on the issue of development of Bihar which has been the subject of gross injustice during the last six decades.

Lalu also sought to pat himself as he said the railway ministry under him has given the state rail projects worth Rs 65,000 crore. ''But Nitishji claims all the projects were initiated when he was the railway minister,'' the RJD supremo said, taking a dig at Nitish.

Nitish said there were no differences on the issue of development among the three leaders. ''However, Laluji and Paswanji, being Union ministers, are better placed to put pressure on the Centre to take action against the Bihari-baiters in Maharashtra,'' he said.

Nitish did not forget to remind Lalu that when he (Nitish) was the railway minister, he used to invite both Lalu and Rabri Devi at official functions. ''But Laluji has not reciprocated probably fearing I will attack his policies,'' he said and assured Lalu that this would not happen.

Paswan, who laid the stone at the ceremony, said the days of caste and creed-based politics are over and ''it is high time we focussed on development of the state''. He said the plant is likely to start production by 2012.

13 Nov 2008
TOI