Laloo embargoes report fearing ‘blackened faces’

Release of a document on the problems and prospects of Bihar’s development by Chief Minister Rabri Devi, scheduled for Saturday, was ab...

Release of a document on the problems and prospects of Bihar’s development by Chief Minister Rabri Devi, scheduled for Saturday, was aborted in the last minute with the government naming it another ‘‘attempt to blacken the face of Bihar’’.

Angry over the content of the Bihar Development Report draft, prepared by the Delhi-based Institute for Human Development, RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav ordered the state government not to cooperate with its release and the two-day seminar that was to follow.

Organisers suspended the seminar and the report was not released. Minister for Water Resources and Environment Jagadanand Singh addressed the delegates and made a strong case of ‘‘discrimination against Bihar’’.

Story continues below this ad

‘‘We accept that we are the most backward. Now tell us, if the Planning Commission has anything to offer us,’’ he said, citing figures to demonstrate Bihar has the least per capita plan expenditure.

Member of Planning Commission D.N. Tiwari did try to refute the figures, but said, ‘‘allotments depend on the respective state governments’ capability to submit plans. We do not cut down on the plans submitted to us’’.

The Planning Commission and the Bihar Government had co-sponsored the study. However, the state’s viewpoints were missing from the draft report because most of its departments did not bother to respond to the draft chapters sent to them months ago — only three departments sent them.

When Laloo and his close associates saw the report yesterday night, he was reportedly furious and said it needs to be revised.

Story continues below this ad

Organisers say they will include the state government point of view, and hold a seminar next month.

The aborted seminar had brought together more than 50 scholars and different topics ranging from tourism to governance institutions were to be taken up in two days. Jagadanand Singh said the Centre’s policy of not providing MSP has destroyed the state’s economy.