Speed Post News Network
Patna : CM Nitish Kumar on June 11, 2017, dedicated two road bridges over river Ganga to the people of Bihar. The two road bridges are: Digha- Sonepur and Ara – Chhapra. In the process the Bihar CM and JD(U) national president Nitish Kumar shared space with RJD chief Lalu Prasad at an official function after taking different positions on a several issues during past few months starting with demonetisation announced by PM Narendra Modi on November 8, 2016.
Nitish had supported demonetisation while Laluu had strongly opposed it. Nitish had also skipped AICC president Sonia Gandhi’s luncheon meet on May 27, 2017, but attended PM Narendra Modi’s luncheon on May 28. Lalu had attended Sonia’s luncheon meet.
The inauguration of the two road bridges coincided with Lalu’s 7oth birthday. Both Nitish and Lalu used the occasion to send signal that everything was perfect within the grand alliance ( Mahagathbandhan). A ‘grand alliance’ government at the centre was Lalu’s birthday wish on June 11.
Inaugurating the Ara-Chapra and Digha (Patna)-Sonepur bridges over Ganga, by pressing a remote control button at Samwad here, Nitish criticised the BJP for creating doubts in the mind of the people about a possible ‘rift’ in the grand alliance. Lalu also lashed out at the BJP saying those casting doubts about the grand alliance’s future would be proved wrong just as they were when the alliance chose Nitish as CM, after its November 2015 victory in Bihar assembly polls though the RJD had won more seats than the JD (U).
Nitish, in the presence of Lalu Prasad, his son and deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and education minister Ashok Choudhary, accused the BJP of raising an unnecessary controversy over naming the Digha-Sonepur bridge ‘JP Setu’ and why it was being inaugurated on the RJD chief’s 70th birthday. Nitish also accused the BJP of taking undue credit for the construction of Digha-Sonepur rail bridge inaugurated in 2016 and not inviting him to the event.
The two road bridges will improve road connectively between south and north Bihar and reduce vehicular traffic pressure on the Gandhi Setu, the reconstruction of which is going on.