Jan Suraaj alleges NDA diverted ₹14,000 crore World Bank funds ahead of Bihar polls
New Delhi: Still recovering from its poor performance in the Bihar Assembly elections, the Prashant Kishor-led Jan Suraaj has levelled serious allegations against the NDA government, claiming that money transferred to women voters under a state scheme may have come from funds originally sanctioned by the World Bank.
Speaking to ANI, Jan Suraaj spokesperson Pavan Verma said the party had information suggesting that the ₹10,000 credited to the accounts of 1.25 crore women voters under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana was drawn from ₹21,000 crore allocated by the World Bank for another project. He alleged that ₹14,000 crore was moved “an hour before the model code of conduct came into force,” though he also admitted that the information “may or may not be true”.
“If this is wrong, I seek forgiveness. But if it is true, the question of ethics arises,” Verma said, adding that governments were capable of reallocating funds and justifying the move after elections.
Verma also claimed that Bihar’s public debt stands at ₹4.06 lakh crore, with a daily interest burden of ₹63 crore. He alleged that the state’s finances were under severe stress and that the “treasury is empty”.
He further said that ahead of voting, rumours had circulated that women who had not yet received the ₹10,000 benefit, around 2.5 crore of the state’s four crore women, might not get the money if the NDA failed to return to power. This, he suggested, had influenced voter behaviour.
Asked whether such welfare transfers had become a decisive factor in the polls, Verma referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s past criticism of “freebies”, noting, “Maybe he said it in the context of Delhi and former CM Arvind Kejriwal. Now what happened in Bihar?”
Verma rejected speculation that Jan Suraaj’s performance was weakened by Prashant Kishor’s earlier stand on lifting the liquor ban if elected. He argued that illegal liquor was available across the state at inflated prices and that the burden ultimately fell on women running households.
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Kane scores hat trick and Bayern extends Bundesliga lead to 11 points
Berlin (AP): Harry Kane was substituted in at the hour mark and still had enough time to score a hat trick on Saturday.
The England captain took his goal tally for Bayern Munich this season to 28 and the defending champions extended their lead to 11 points after thrashing Stuttgart 5-0 on the road.
Second-placed Leipzig later hosted Eintracht Frankfurt.
With Kane on the bench, Konrad Laimer took on the scoring duties and produced a superb finish. The Austria midfielder collected a long ball and combined with Michael Olise before slotting home from close range with a subtle backheel past goalkeeper Alexander Nübel in the 11th minute.
Kane made it 2-0 with a low shot into the bottom corner and Josip Stanišic added his name to the scoresheet. Kane added further luster to the win from the penalty spot after Stuttgart was reduced to 10 men for Lorenz Assignon using his arm to clear a ball in the 81st.
Kane completed the rout with a flick from an Olise cross with two minutes left. He has found the net five more times with England this season, taking his total to 33 goals for club and country.
Stuttgart had chances before halftime but lacked a cutting edge. Midfielder Nikolas Nartey thought he equalized only for his goal to be ruled out for offside after a VAR check.
Bayern Munich is unbeaten in 16 league and cup games against German opposition this season.
Other results
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Bayer Leverkusen suffered a fourth loss, 2-0 at Augsburg.
Defender Dimitrios Giannoulis put the host in front after six minutes then turned provider to set up forward Anton Kade. Leverkusen, which hit the woodwork, remained in fourth place, 14 points behind Bayern.
Wolfsburg scored from all of its shots on target and moved four points clear of the relegation zone after beating Union Berlin 3-1. Heidenheim defeated Freiburg 2-1. Cologne and St. Pauli drew 1-1.
