‘Nitish snubbed me before officials,told me to keep quiet’

Former cricketer and BJP’s Darbhanga MP Kirti Azad on Sunday said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should do something for the development of his constituency rather than “snubbing him before government officials and not allowing him to share problems” of the constituency. Azad was speaking at a college function in the district town and was referring to a review meeting that the Chief Minister held on Saturday where,the MP said,he was stopped by Kumar twice from speaking. He said he had to lodge a protest with the Chief Minister third time saying a public representative must be treated with respect.

“I only wanted to give my suggestions on ways to deal with water-logging in Darbhanga. But the manner I was told to keep quiet twice hurt me,” said Azad.

On Sunday,the former cricketer-turned-politician said: “No one can question my integrity. Nor am I the one who takes commission. If Nitish Kumar is really interested in the development of Mithilanchal region,why does not he try to get special assistance for the region as per constitutional provisions to help the most backward region in the state. Only saying that Bihar cannot develop without Mithila will not do.”

Azad said he could trust the Bihar Chief Minister’s intention with regard to Mithila only if he gives the same treatment to the region as Vidarbha in Maharashtra and some regions in Andhra Pradesh and Northeast get.