Patna,(BiharTimes): On the last day before Holi break the education department of Bihar on Friday gifted microwave ovens to all the 243 MLAs. It will cost Rs 30 lakhs to the state’s exchequer.

In the ongoing Budget session MLAs and MLCs have also received suitcases, mobile phones and other types of gifts from other departments. This practice of gifting legislators during Budget Sessions by various departments have been prevalent for last over two decades.

The microwave ovens presented on Friday cost education department Rs 11,125 each.
“It's just a matter of about Rs 30 lakh. Please don’t hype it up. It’s unfair to compare this to other issues like salaries, condition of schools,” education minister Ashok Choudhary said adding “we have given this so that when MLAs go to their areas they can heat ‘mid-day meal’ before eating.”

Choudhary is the state Congress chief too and no legislator of major political party was heard opposing this practice of giving gifts. After all the BJP too was in power for about eight years in the recent past.
Choudhary defended it by stating that it has been happening for ages and there is nothing new in this.
“We have subsidiaries within the department that are profitable, they are the ones that give these gifts,” he added.

Instead of legislators the BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Husain told mediapersons that it is people of the state who should get gift from the state government during this Budget session and not the elected representatives.

Incidentally, Shahnawaz is not the member of any House.