Gopalganj (Bihar): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a scathing attack on RJD leader Lalu Prasad, accusing him of being involved in several scams and claiming that "those who ate up fodder cannot focus on the welfare of the people of Bihar."

Shah also criticized Prasad for neglecting the state's development and prioritizing the interests of his family instead. Addressing a rally in Gopalganj, the BJP leader said, "The NDA governments, both at the Centre and in Bihar, have been working tirelessly for the overall development of the state. Those who siphoned off fodder meant for cattle cannot think about the welfare of the people of Bihar."

He further accused Prasad of being involved in various scams, including the bitumen scam, the flood relief material supply scam, and the 'Charwaha Vidyalaya' (school for cattle grazers) scam, in addition to the infamous fodder scam.

The fodder scam, which involved the fraudulent withdrawal of crores of rupees from treasuries such as Doranda, Deoghar, Dumka, and Chaibasa, was uncovered in the 1990s when Jharkhand was still part of Bihar. Prasad, the former Bihar chief minister, is one of the prominent politicians convicted in the case.

“Lalu-Rabri regime here and Sonia-Manmohan government at the Centre did nothing for Bihar. Lalu Prasad worked for his family only. He tried to make both his sons CM, made his wife Bihar chief minister, sent his daughter to Rajya Sabha, but did nothing for the people," Shah alleged.

He also asserted that Bihar would be made flood-free in the next five years.

"Flood will soon become a thing of the past in Bihar," he said.

The NDA government is also constructing a massive temple at the birthplace of goddess Sita in Bihar, he said.

Shah said the state government is developing 'Punaura Dham Janki Mandir', a Hindu pilgrimage site in Sitamarhi district that is considered the birthplace of the goddess Sita.

A large number of pilgrims visit the 'Punaura Dham' every year.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had, in December 2023, laid the foundation stone for the overall development of the 'Punaura Dham Janki Mandir'. The state cabinet had approved Rs 72.47 crore for the overall development of the 'Punaura Dham'. PTI