Nitish govt "totally failed" in giving flood relief: BJP

New Delhi, Sept 1 (PTI) BJP today accused the Nitish Kumargovernment in Bihar of "total failure" in providing relief toflood victims, alleging that they were not getting food andmedicine leading to a rise in death toll. The party fielded Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy and itsspokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain to launch a counter-attack onthe state’s ruling JD(U)-RJD alliace, which has accused Unionministers hailing from Bihar, of doing little to get centralhelp to the flood-hit region. The state administration is suffering due to the "battleof oneupmanship" between Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad, theysaid, alleging that "two" chief ministers are ruling thestate. "Bihar has faced more severe floods in the past. But thekind of crisis people are facing this time has cause terribleanger among the masses. The state government has been a totalfailure," Rudy said, claiming there were few boats to rescuethe people and lack of medicine was causing deaths. Hussain also attacked Kumar for blaming Farakka barragefor the floods and said if he was sincere, then he should havetaken up the matter with West Bengal Chief Minister MamataBanerjee before taking up the issue with Prime MinisterNarendra Modi. "He has given an opinion without any scientific study. Thefact is all gates of the barrage are open this time, so it isnot appropriate to link floods with it," he said. The Centre had rushed NDRF teams but for whom the deathtoll, currently at 168, would have been much higher, Rudysaid. "There is no shortage of funds. But there is noarrangement in the state," he said. Hussain said the attack by the ruling alliance leaders onUnion ministers over allegations, including that one of themate food meant for the flood affected, showed their petty-mindedness. "To stop others from going to Bihar is not onlydisgraceful but also inhuman. It also amounts to questioningthe constitutional scheme of things," Rudy said. PTI KRSC