Congress dares Nitish Kumar to debate central assistance

Congress today asked Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar to participate in a public debate with Congress on central assistance in the state.

"Kumar or his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi should accept the challenge on the issue," BPCC spokesperson Chandra Mishra told reporters in Patna.

Terming as "false" the chief minister's allegation that the Centre had rejected the state's proposals for the uplift of madrasas in six Muslim dominated districts, he said it was a desperate attempt to mislead the minorities on the eve of the election.

He said the chief minister was also not dishing out fact on the fund received by the Centre on Kosi flood in 2008.

The Centre had provided Rs3,800 crore for infrastructure development of the flood ravaged districts, but the state government was yet to provide utilisation certificate.