PM does not have time to hear public problems: Nitish Kumar

Criticising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for notifying 51% FDI in multi-brand retail, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said he has 'neither time nor interest to hear the grievances of the people'.

"The PM is not bothered about the problems of the people and so he is not able to spare time or have interest to hear their grievances even as he is keen to keep up his image in the foreign media," he said in a press release after his weekly Janata Durbar for NDA workers.

"Singh has taken a number of anti-people decisions like FDI in multi-brand retail, diesel price hike and rationing of subsidized LPG cylinders as part of the image makeover strategy in foreign media in the aftermath of reports that described him as an under-achiever."

Kumar said FDI in mutli-brand retail would have 'catastrophic impact' on crores of domestic traders whose business and livelihood would be jeopardized once foreign retailers set up their establishments in the country.

There would be large-scale unemployment and the precious capital of the nation would be taken away by the foreign retailers to their respective countries.

The chief minister also slammed the opposition parties in Bihar for fomenting strife and disharmony in the society.

"It appears that the political adversaries are not able to digest peaceful law and order situation and communal harmony prevailing in the state due to the efforts of the NDA government," the release added.