NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday criticised Bihar’s BJP-led NDA government for spending “crores of rupees” on events to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday while people in the state were dying in floods.“More than 45 lakh people are affected by floods. Rainfall has been less than 35% this time, causing a part of Bihar to face drought-like conditions. People are dying due to floods, yet hundreds of crores of rupees were squandered on ‘diya-baati’ to mark the prime minister’s birthday,” the Bihar leader of opposition said at a press conference in Patna.Tejashwi Yadav questioned the expenditure on the celebrations and sought details of assistance provided to Bihar through the PM CARES Fund.“Does Bihar come to the Centre’s mind only during elections?” he asked.He also questioned Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s visit to the state, saying drought-affected areas should have been inspected alongside flood-hit regions.“Did the agriculture minister of the Government of India come and take stock of the drought? He toured the outside areas. Since the agriculture minister had come, he should have visited the drought-affected areas where it rained less than 35% this time, and where farmers’ crops across many hectares have been destroyed,” the RJD leader added.Seeking financial assistance for farmers, Tejashwi Yadav demanded that the “double-engine government” — referring to the BJP being in power at both the Centre and in Bihar — immediately provide at least Rs 15,000 to every farmer affected by drought.He also criticised chief minister Samrat Choudhary, accusing the government of lacking a roadmap and failing to provide relief as tehe stategrapples with floods and drought.The flood situation in Bihar has affected several districts amid rising water levels in the Ganga and other rivers. According to reports citing the state Disaster Management Department, around 40.72 lakh people across 676 gram panchayats in 88 blocks of 16 districts had been affected as of September 20, 2026.
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The state administration has deployed SDRF and NDRF teams for rescue and relief operations, while community kitchens, relief camps and boats are being used to assist affected residents.Political parties and leaders have also contributed to relief efforts. The Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) donated Rs 11 lakh to the Bihar Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, while its MPs, MLAs and MLCs contributed one month’s salary each. The BJP donated Rs 51 lakh, while its national president Nitin Nabin pledged three months’ salary. Chief minister Samrat Choudhary also donated one month’s salary to the relief fund.(With ANI inputs)
