Bihar failed to spend funds for growth, says Sonia Gandhi

"It is a sad thing that the Bihar government failed to spend and utilise funds provided by the central government for development of the state," Gandhi told an election rally in Kishanganj assembly constituency of Kishanganj district.

She said crores of rupees were provided by the central government for Bihar's development, but they did not reach the people. "I heard of rampant corruption and irregularities in implementing schemes," she said.

"In case of Kishanganj itself, central government provided huge funds as per welfare schemes to be implemented in a region with minority population, but major part of it was neither spent nor utilised. It appears the Bihar government has no time to spend money for the welfare of Muslims," Gandhi said.

Citing another example, she said the state government has failed to set up a centre of the Aligarh Muslim University in Kishanganj. "The state government has failed to provide land for it," Gandhi said.

She appealed to the voters to give the Congress a chance after two decades of non-Congress rule. Gandhi began a day-long campaign Monday for the October-November Bihar elections, asserting that the Congress was working for the common man and was committed to the development of Bihar. She will address another election rally in Motihari later in the day.