Budget Day: RJD's Rabdi Devi says Rs 26,000 cr support to Bihar for development is 'jhunjhuna'

Patna (Bihar) [India], July 23 : Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD leader Rabdi Devi said that the announcement of Rs 26,000 crore of support allocated to Bihar for the development of crucial projects including road connectivity and infrastructure is a "jhunjhuna."
Speaking to ANI, Rabdi Devi said, "The flood situation displaced so many people, many lost their homes and precious belongings in the floodwaters after the rain. Murders and thefts are happening in the state. Labourers are not getting their wages. Youth are not getting employment and farmer issues persist."
"Farmers' fertilisers and seeds should be made cheaper, and inflation should be stopped. The costs of petrol and diesel are high and farmers don't even get electricity. Rs 26,000 crore allotted to Bihar is a 'jhunjhuna," said the RJD leader.
This comes after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made major announcements for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, including a boost in infrastructure and special financial support.
The announcement covers human resource development, infrastructure and the generation of economic opportunities to make the eastern region of the country, covering Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, an engine to attain Viksit Bharat.
In her Budget speech in Parliament, Nirmala Sitharaman said, "On the Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor, we will support the development of an industrial nod at Gaya in Bihar. We will also support the construction of road connectivity projects, namely the Patna-Purnia Expressway, Buxar-Bagalpur Expressway, Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Vaishali-Darbanga and an additional two-lane bridge over the River Ganga at Buxar at a total cost of Rs 26,000 crore."
"Power projects, including setting up of a new 2400 megawatt power plant at Pirpainti, will be taken up at a cost of Rs 21,400 crore," she added.
The Finance Minister said that new airports, medical colleges and sports infrastructure in Bihar will be constructed.
An additional allocation to support capital investments will be provided, she said. She emphasised that the requests of the Bihar government for external assistance from multilateral development banks will be expedited.
The FM also announced an allocation of Rs 11,500 crore for flood control measures in Bihar. Funds have also been provided for developing the temple corridors in the iconic temples in Nihar.
The Kashi Model will be implemented in Bodh Gaya. Special funds have also been provided for the Rajgir Jain Temple site.
Andhra Pradesh also benefited from the Union Budget 2024-25 as the Finance Minister announced special financial support to the state, recognising the state's need for capital.
"Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act: Our government has made efforts to fulfil the commitments in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. Recognising the state's need for capital, we will facilitate special financial support through multilateral agencies," Sitharaman said.
"In the current FY, Rs 15,000 crore will be arranged with additional amounts in future years," she added.
The Finance Minister on Tuesday presented the first Union Budget of the Modi 3.0 government and her seventh consecutive one during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The budget session of Parliament began on July 22 and, according to schedule, will end on August 12.