Patna,(BiharTimes): Chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Thursday abstained from the launch function of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana.
The launch function was organized at Adhiveshan Bhavan in the state capital and Manjhi was invited to preside over it. Neither he nor any member of his cabinet turned up. The state government was represented by development commissioner S K Negi and principal secretary, finance, Rameshwar Singh.
Union food, civil supplies and consumers’ affairs minister Ram Vilas Paswan, who was present at the chief guest, regretted the absence of CM and his ministers from the function. He said as it was a government of India's programme, and not a party function, Manjhi should have attended it.
Speaking on the occasion he urged the state government to provide rooms in panchayat buildings for the opening of bank branches and hoped the state government would make the programme a success in Bihar.
BJP MP Ram Kripal Yadav also criticized the absence of Manjhi and said that he was the only CM in the country to abstain from the launch.