As Bihar prepares for the first phase of voting on Thursday, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has issued a scathing critique of the BJP-JD(U) government, accusing it of years of deception, injustice, and neglect that have severely impacted the state’s development and its people’s welfare.
File Photo: IANS
As Bihar prepares for the first phase of voting on Thursday, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has issued a scathing critique of the BJP-JD(U) government, accusing it of years of deception, injustice, and neglect that have severely impacted the state’s development and its people’s welfare.
In a detailed statement shared on platform X, Ramesh outlined 20 critical points highlighting alleged failures and scandals under the National Democratic Alliance regime in Bihar. He warned voters to consider these issues before heading to the polls, alleging that the NDA has prioritised its political power over Bihar’s bright future.
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“More than ten recruitment and entrance exams in the state were leaked, with scandals erupting. The futures of lakhs of youth were ruined. When the youth took to the streets demanding justice, they were mercilessly beaten with batons,” Ramesh said, condemning the handling of youth employment and education.
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He cited a sting operation exposing the sale of academic papers and degrees for huge sums, ranging from Rs 20 lakh to 50 lakh, alleging systemic corruption.
“Due to the NDA government’s failed economic and employment policies, crores of people were forced to leave their homes and migrate to other states for labour work. According to the Modi government’s own e-Shram portal, 3 crore 18 lakh Biharis are engaged in labour in other states,” he added.
Ramesh accused the government of turning Bihar into the poorest state in India, referencing a caste-based survey that showed 64 per cent of the population surviving on just Rs 67 a day, with Dalits and extremely backward classes most affected.
He raised concerns about law and order, noting, “In Bihar, goonda raj and the kidnapping industry are thriving—on average, 8 murders, 33 kidnappings, and 136 heinous crimes occur every day.”
The opposition leader also pointed to financial scandals, including a Rs 70,000-crore scam uncovered by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), and infrastructure failures such as the collapse of 27 major bridges in the last three years due to corruption.
Alleging the state’s public health was in crisis, Ramesh cited the CAG report showing a 60 per cent shortage of health staff, 86 per cent shortage of specialist doctors, and a 93 per cent shortage of hospital beds.
”Environmental neglect was another key issue, with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) reporting increased pollution in the Ganga River and dysfunctional sewage treatment plants,” the Congress leader wrote.
Ramesh also condemned the ”illegal liquor trade flourishing under the guise of prohibition, leading to 190 deaths from poisonous liquor since 2016 in various districts”.
In the post, the education, agriculture, and social welfare schemes were described as being ”in disarray, with high dropout rates, poor higher education enrollment, farmers deprived of benefits, and scams in nutrition programs and job schemes like MGNREGA”.
“Corruption in the state is at its peak,” Ramesh said, referring to over 4,200 government officials accused of corruption cases per the Economic Offences Unit and Vigilance Department.
He concluded with a call to action for voters: “Defeat BJP-JD(U) in Bihar. Unemployment, migration, corruption, and goonda raj will end on their own.”
As the first phase of Bihar’s crucial election approaches, Ramesh’s detailed critique adds to the charged political atmosphere, with promises of change resonating amid widespread concerns about governance and development in the state.
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