Barauni: Slamming the bonhomie between senior JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today said that the two leaders will not succeed in keeping BJP out of power in Bihar after Assembly polls later this year.
Claiming that the process of merger between RJD and JD(U) amounted to 'cheating' of the mandate given by the people of Bihar in 2010 Assembly polls, he said Kumar and Lalu will not succeed in their common agenda to keep BJP out of power in Bihar after the Assembly polls later this year.
"Those making statements (Kumar) and talking about oiling lathis to take on (Prasad) should know that their tactics will never work or succeed before sincere works being done by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi to uplift the condition of the poor," Pradhan, here to take part in the golden jubilee celebrations of the Barauni Refinery, told reporters.
Taking on former chief minister Nitish Kumar for cosying up to his previous 'nemesis' RJD supremo Lalu Prasad to gang up against BJP, the Union MOS for Petroleum and Natural Gas reminded the former that he had allied with BJP to rid Bihar of 'jungle raj' ten years ago.
"Our party had demonstrated large-heartedness by giving the chief minister's post to the JD(U) leader despite having more MLAs than him, but now he has changed colours and joined hands with the same foe to take on his once trusted ally," Pradhan, who is a senior BJP leader, said.
He also trashed JD(U) government's charge of discrimination by the Centre to Bihar, saying, "We are doing a lot for development of Bihar."
On the former chief minister's jibe at Prime Minister's '56-inch chest', the Union MOS for Petroleum and Natural Gas charged the former with being arrogant and said that his ego was punctured by the people of Bihar during the general elections last year.
Expressing sadness at the plight of contract labourers working at the Barauni Refinery plant, he asked the refinery officials and contractors to take measures to improve their standard of living.
Contract labourers should get as much benefits and facilities as those regular employees (numbering about 1,275 at Barauni refinery), Pradhan said and asked the refinery officials and contractors to address these matters at the earliest.
The Barauni refinery was built in collaboration with the erstwhile Soviet Union and Romania and dedidcated to the nation in 1965.
BJP MP from Begusarai, Bhola Singh, IOC Chairman B Ashok and a number of BJP leaders and refinery officials were present at the golden jubilee function fo the Barauni refinery.
