Patna,(BiharTimes): If media reports are to be believed 19 departments, headed by senior ministers of the Nitish Kumar cabinet, gave ‘gifts’ to MLAs and MLCs during the budget session of the Bihar Legislature that concluded on April 22.

The gifts included mobile phones worth about Rs 10,000 each given by the Road Construction department.The Rural Development department gifted tablet computers to legislators while departments like Education and Tourism offered good-quality watches.

The Industry Department provided jute bags along with sarees and shirts to MLAs and MLCs.However, the BJP objected to this generosity by different departments. Former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi said it is not a good practise and added that he distributes the gifts among workers.

However, ministers said it was part of an old tradition.Finance minister Bijendra Yadav see nothing wrong in it. He said such gifts are even distributed to MPs by various central ministries.Water Resources ministers Vijay Chaudhary described it as normal practice while Rural Development and Parliamentary Affairs minister Shrawan Kumar was quoted by the PTI that tablets were distributed by his department among legislators to help them “discharge their responsibility fast and with greater efficiency”.RJD MLA Bhai Birendra did not see anything wrong in the practice and said he distributes the gifts among workers.