SuMo asks CM Nitish to take responsibility of Jan 14 boat tragedy

Alok Mishra

Patna: Former deputy CM and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi ( SuMo) on January 15 urged CM Nitish Kumar  to cancel the proposed Human chain on January 21 in wake of boat tragedy that claimed the lives of 30 persons on January 14. Talking to journalists here, Modi said that after the tragedy, ruling JD (U) cancelled its `chura-dahi bhoj’ and the renovation work on Mahatma Gandhi Setu has been also cancelled. He wondered that if the state government could spend Rs 200 crore on Prakashotsava, why it failed to make any arrangement for the return journey of kite festival participants from Sabalpura diara across river Ganga.

If the state government can make better arrangements for Kalchakra, why it failed to make arrangements for festivals of Hindus, Modi asked?  CM Nitish Kumar drew applause for arrangements during Prakashotasav, now he should also take the responsibility of death of so many persons in the boat tragedy, the BJP leader said adding credit for nice arrangements goes to CM, why for failure the bureaucracy is being held responsible.” Why administrative and police officials were not present on the spot,” questioned Modi?

He said the state government after the tragedy said that it would take action against the organizers of Disneyland as a large number of people reached the other side to see it but the fact is that Disneyland fair had not started yet.The district administrations of Saran and Patna are leveling charges against each other over the boat tragedy, he said claiming that most of the senior administrative officers of Patna were engaged in dahi-chura bhoj at RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s residence and in throwing red carpet to CM there. He claimed that 11 persons of Mahendru locality alone met watery grave on January 14.

Meanwhile, an FIR has been lodged with the Sonepur police station against the boatman and management of the amusement park on the statement of Sonepur Circle Officer.