NDA govt ignored minorities socio-economic development: RJD

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) today alleged that chief minister Nitish Kumar ignored the socio-economic development of the minorities during his nearly five-year stint in Bihar.

"Barring lip service, Kumar was never serious about ameliorating socio-economic condition of the Muslims under pressure from the RSS," the RJD spokespersons - Ram Kripal Yadav and Shakeel Ahmed Khan alleged at a press conference.

The NDA government was apathetic towards setting up educational infrastructure to such an extent that it used a meagre Rs23.4 crore out of Rs122 crore released to the state by the Centre for multi-sectoral development programme for seven Muslim-concentrated districts, they claimed.

Similarly, the state government "failed to complete" land acquisition in Kishanganj district for setting up the study centre of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) even as two other states - West Bengal and Kerala - have done so already and the academic activities for the muslims there have already commenced, the RJD spokespersons said.

The NDA government also "failed" to provide recruitment for the muslim youths in the police department and Rs130 crore earmarked for the purpose was subsequently transferred to the Mazrul Haque Arabic and Persian University in the state, Yadav and Khan alleged.