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'It is only in Bihar that we see each and everything with the tainted glass of politics'

A day after attending Wednesday's all party meeting of MPs convened by Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, Union Agriculture Minister Nitish Kumar arrived in Patna.

Since he rang his former friend Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Laloo Yadav last fortnight to discuss the development of a truncated Bihar, rumours have making the rounds of the state that a new political axis is underway with Nitish, Laloo and Aviation Minister Sharad Yadav closing ranks. Union Telecom Minister Ram Vilas Paswan is seen to be on the other side of the fence.

In an interview with Soroor Ahmed for rediff.com Nitish Kumar criticised Paswan for opening a new front against him.

What do you have to say about Mr Paswan's allegation that you halted rail and other projects begun during his tenure in the railway ministry?

I just do not want to react to what Paswan says. He distorts facts. After all, what has he to do with the degradation of the railway zonal office at Hajipur? If he has any complaint he should quarrel with Mamata Banerjee who is the railway minister

Without naming you, Paswan charges you and Sharad Yadav of joining forces against him. He cited this week's meeting of all party MPs convened by Rabri Devi in Delhi.

There is no politics whatsoever involved in the all party meeting. In fact, it was I who first called the MPs of Bihar on August 24 to discuss the development scenario of post-Jharkhand Bihar. Paswan was among the 47 MPs who attended that meeting. Then the seven-MP core committee was constituted. Parliamentarians belonging to all the parties -- be it of the Left, Right or Centre -- got representation in it.

Paswan never said anything then. Now that he has realised he had not taken the initiative he has started seeing politics. It is sheer nonsense.

Why was this meeting called when he had trouble with Sharad Yadav?

Simply because the need of the hour arises now. It was only after the passing of the Bihar Reorganisation Bill 2000 last August that we realised that Bihar should be compensated. We have not changed our stand so far as the Rabri government is concerned, nor have we started supporting it. Paswan may well say whatever he wants to say. I am least bothered about it.

Are you hopeful about the development of Bihar in the present scenario?

I am hopeful that the development package will certainly help Bihar develop. I am not a pessimist. After all, there are many central schemes in which the state government has no say. We can develop those sectors.

It is only in Bihar that we see each and everything with the tainted glass of politics. I have been a minister in the Union Cabinet for the last two years and have observed that in the other states both the Opposition and ruling party approach Centre for development projects. For example, both the UDF and LDF leaders from Kerala come to me whenever anything is concerned with the people of the state.

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