Bihar BJP MLAs Allege Massive Corruption in PM Awas Yojana During Assembly Session
In a heated session of the Bihar legislative assembly on Wednesday, ruling party MLAs from the BJP raised serious allegations of widespread corruption in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) across the state. During the Question Hour, BJP legislators Baidyanath Prasad and Sunil Kumar brought forth claims of bribery and irregularities in the beneficiary survey conducted by the state government.
Allegations of Bribery and Irregularities
Baidyanath Prasad, the MLA from Riga, alleged massive irregularities in the selection process for PMAY beneficiaries. He stated that the system was being manipulated, leading to the exclusion of truly needy individuals. Sunil Kumar, the MLA from Biharsharif, provided a specific example from the Rahui block, where he claimed beneficiaries were being forced to pay up to 25% of their housing funds as bribes, even after the amounts had been credited to their accounts.
Further amplifying the accusations, BJP MLA Nitish Mishra asserted that the intended beneficiaries of the scheme were not receiving its benefits due to systemic flaws. Mithilesh Tiwari, another BJP MLA, alleged direct extortion, with bribes of up to Rs 20,000 being demanded from housing beneficiaries. Pramod Kumar, also from the BJP, accused the survey for PMAY of being rigged, claiming that influential people in many areas had lists prepared according to their own preferences, bypassing official protocols.
Government Response and Assembly Uproar
In response to these allegations, Rural Development Minister Shrawan Kumar maintained that the PMAY process was transparent. However, he acknowledged that if any complaints of irregularities were received, strict action would be taken against those found guilty. He urged the MLAs to formally inform the authorities about specific instances so that investigations could be initiated.
The House witnessed a prolonged uproar and heated debate on the issue, with MLAs demanding immediate corrective measures. Nitish Mishra highlighted that the state-wide survey had produced two lists, raising concerns about transparency in compiling the beneficiary roster for the housing scheme.
Other Developments in the Assembly
In other matters, Road Construction Minister Dilip Kumar Jaiswal announced the government's plan to develop a "Shiva Circuit" in Bihar. This initiative aims to connect cities with major Shiva temples, such as Simariya Dham in Begusarai, Baiju Dham, Hariharnath, Garibnath, Khageshwarnath, and Someshwar Mahadev at Areraj, through improved roads and infrastructure. The proposal will be sent to the Centre for funding, and MLAs were requested to provide lists of key temples in their constituencies to aid planning. Speaker Prem Kumar stated he would convene a meeting soon to discuss this project.
Additionally, several MLAs demanded the extension of the Ganga Path from Koilwar to Buxar. Minister Jaiswal confirmed that this is a dream project of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, with plans to extend the path from Buxar to Farakka. He noted that current extensions are underway from Munger to Sabour, Koilwar, and Bidupur. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary intervened, requesting that the Ganga Path not be referred to as 'Marine Drive,' highlighting its growing appeal and attractiveness compared to the famous Mumbai landmark.
