Even as Bihar Cooperative Minister Alok Kumar Mehta called on Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today to discuss the issue, the JD(U) slammed Singh for his remarks against Nitish Kumar.
ESCALATING THE tussle between the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government and the Centre on the issue of implementation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, the JD(U) Monday said it will seek the support of chief ministers of other non-NDA-ruled states over its demand for a change in the name of the scheme.
“The number of Central government schemes is increasing by the day. PM Narendra Modi talks of cooperative federalism but this trend is choking the very spirit of it,” JD(U) general secretary K C Tyagi said. “What is wrong in Nitish Kumar asking for a change in the scheme’s title? If 50-per cent funding is to come from states (with the remaining 50 per cent from the Centre), why should it be called only ‘PM Fasal Bima Yojana’?”
Why not call it PM-CM Fasal Yojana, as the states are contributing equally, Tyagi asked.
Even as Bihar Cooperative Minister Alok Kumar Mehta called on Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today to discuss the issue, the JD(U) slammed Singh for his remarks against Nitish Kumar.
Singh had earlier called Nitish’s suggestion on rechristening the scheme “absurd” since 22 other states that implemented it did not raise any such issue.
“Nitish Kumar has raised concern over rising number of central schemes earlier, too. We will try to take on board other non-NDA CMs such as Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Naveen Patnaik on the issue. We will also appeal to CMs of the Left Front to join us on this,” Tyagi said.