Land for Lalu146;s brother: Nitish promises probe, action

Nitish said he had come to know about the matter through media reports and the Government would look into it.

In 2004, Lalu8217;s elder brother was termed landless and a piece of government land was settled in favour of his wife Kunti Devi. Now, the land has been acquired by the state Government for a railway project and Gulab Rai has allegedly stopped work, demanding compensation for the land.

Though Kumar was guarded in his approach, JDU MP Shivanand Tiwary came out strongly against Lalu and his family.

8220;I know Gulab Rai. He owns a three-storeyed house. How can he be a poor landless person? It is yet another example of blatant misuse of power during the RJD regime,8221; Tiwary said, adding that he will urge the state

Government to cancel the land settlement and initiate action against the guilty. Nitish, on the other hand, lashed out at the Centre for its failure to extend compensation for damages suffered during last year8217;s flood.

8220;It8217;s time for the next monsoon and another round of flood damage, but the Centre has so far not granted any compensation,8221; he said, accusing Central ministers from Bihar of playing politics by levelling unfounded allegations against the state Government. He added that with a detailed report of the damages caused by the flood in 2007, he had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and demanded a compensation of Rs 11,000 crore. Apart from that Bihar should have been given due share of Rs 2,000 crore from the Central Calamity Relief Fund, he said.

8220;But so far not a single penny under any of the two heads has been received and the state Government is utilising its own resources to extend succour to the flood ravaged masses,8221; he said.

He also accused the Centre of disregarding his demand for an increased allocation of food grains and K-oil for BPL families. Pointing fingers at RJD ministers, Nitish remarked that people of Bihar were well aware as to who was working for their welfare.