RJD's national working president Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Wednesday castigated the Samrat Choudhary government after the state cabinet approved the withdrawal of Rs 3,662 crore from the Bihar Contingency Fund to pay social security pensions for May, June, and July, describing it as a 'financial emergency'.
The attack came shortly after Chief Minister transferred the social security pension of Rs 1,100 to beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) on Wednesday. Taking to social media, Tejashwi highlighted how the state government approved the withdrawal of a huge amount from the Bihar Contingency Fund to pay pensions, while the contingency fund is meant to meet needs during unforeseen crises.
'In a state where the contingency fund is now being tapped just to pay pensions, you can imagine how dangerous the situation has become. For the past six months, we have been saying this repeatedly—and it’s well-known—that for the last four-five months, salaries for employees and pension payments in Bihar haven’t been made because the treasury is empty. Even after more than a year, contractors haven’t been paid,' Tejashwi wrote on X on Wednesday.
Alleging that Bihar’s financial condition is alarming, he asked the Chief Minister to explain why, despite decades of 'double-engine government', things have come to this point. He claimed that work hasn’t even started on the work plans approved in 2023-24, stating that the state’s financial condition is in dire straits. 'Scholarship money isn’t being disbursed. The Student Credit Card scheme is at a standstill. Due to a shortage of funds, yesterday’s cabinet meeting also ended the ongoing Bihar State Crop Assistance Scheme that had been running before,' he said.
In response, the Janata Dal (United) alleged that the opposition leader was trying desperately to 'mislead' the people of the state, claiming that the state government makes budgetary provisions for the implementation of schemes. 'The pension amount has tripled. Naturally, additional funds are required,' state JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar told reporters on Wednesday. 'But why is Tejashwi worried?' he asked. Other National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders said it was utterly farcical that the Lalu Prasad family, which once filled their private coffers by looting the state exchequer, is now lecturing on the state’s financial condition.
