Tejashwi Yadav Accuses Nitish Kumar and BJP of Corruption Over Bridge Collapses in Bihar
Patna (Bihar) [India], July 5: Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has accused Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of widespread corruption. He pointed to the collapse of 10 bridges in the state within 15 days and a recent paper leak issue as evidence.
Speaking at RJD’s foundation day event, Yadav challenged the ruling JD(U) party, which has governed Bihar for the past 17 years, to release details of the officials involved in the bridge projects. He claimed that JD(U) members were blaming him for the bridge collapses and dared the Nitish Kumar government to arrest him if he was responsible.
Yadav stated, “People say there is a double-engine government in Bihar. In the past 20 days, more than a dozen bridges have collapsed in the state. A number of train accidents have happened. Crimes are at their peak in Bihar. There was an incident of paper leak also. But, no one from the government is ready to speak on these issues. When they are asked, they say Tejashwi has done all this. Hum hi paper leak karwa rahe hain…hum hi pull girwa rahe hain…toh giraftar karlo humein.”
He further challenged Nitish Kumar and the BJP to release details about who sanctioned and laid the foundation stone for the collapsed bridges. “For the last 17 years, the Rural Development Department has been with JD(U). I challenge the CM or BJP leaders to release details, including about who sanctioned and laid the foundation stone of bridges that have now collapsed. This way, it will become clear who is corrupt,” he added.
RJD is celebrating 28 years of its foundation today, having been established on July 5, 1997. Over the past 15 days, Bihar has seen the collapse of 10 bridges, raising concerns about infrastructure safety and maintenance. A bridge collapsed in Bihar’s Saran district on Thursday, marking the 10th such incident in just over a fortnight. Five bridges in Araria, Siwan, East Champaran, Kishanganj, and Madhubani districts collapsed in June. On June 22, a bridge over the Gandak River in Siwan, approximately 40-45 years old, also fell. On June 23, a bridge under construction in East Champaran, costing around Rs 1.5 crore, collapsed, with locals blaming the use of substandard materials. On June 18, a newly constructed bridge over the Bakra River in Pararia village of Bihar’s Araria district collapsed.
