Seeking reply from CM on Saran tragedy Oppn walkout from Council

Patna,(BiharTimes): Seeking reply from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on the Saran mid-day meal tragedy instead of the Education minister P K Shahi the opposition parties on Tuesday staged walk out in the Legislative Council.

As Shahi rose to reply after two hours long discussion, the BJP, RJD and Congress members walked out of the Upper House.

Raising the issue the Leader of Opposition Sushil Kumar Modi said as the matter is very sensitive, it is the Chief Minister, who should have answered the concerns of the opposition members. Stating this he led his party out from the House.

Soon after this, RJD Legislature party leader Ghulam Ghaus charged that out in 25 out of 38 districts in the state the in-charge of midday meal scheme belonged to a particular caste.

Shahi contradicted this and threw a challenge to Ghaus to prove his charge or quit membership of the House. This provoked the RJD members to walk out of the House.

Incidentally the lone Congress MLC Jyoti also went out of the House saying the Chief Minister himself should have replied on the subject and there was no point listening to the speech of Education minister.
Shahi, in his reply, said Rs 3.37 each is earmarked for providing food, including rice, pulse, vegetable, salt and mustard oil to students from class I to V while it is Rs 5 each for students of class VI to VIII.

The centre bears 75 per cent of the cost under the midday meal scheme while state has to spend rest 25 per cent.

He asked is it possible to provide quality food at this amount? The minister called for wide debate on the issue.

Earlier, participating in the debate Modi in his speech on the subject had alleged that the state government had failed to spend money under the scheme and returned a sizable portion to the Centre.