Jehanabad/Arwal (PTI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday launched several development projects and schemes valued at around Rs 405 crore in Jehanabad and Arwal districts during his ‘Samridhi Yatra’.

Of the programmes, Jehanabad received programmes worth Rs 252 crore and Arwal govt projects valued at Rs 153 crore, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

Kumar also reviewed ongoing schemes and development projects in both districts.

“The CM launched development projects/schemes worth Rs 252 crore in Jehanabad district. These included the inauguration of 88 programmes costing Rs 70 crore and laying the foundation stones for 73 others worth Rs 182 crore,” the statement said.

Kumar inaugurated a stitching training-cum-production centre for Jeevika Didis at the old block office premises in Jehanabad.

The state government, through the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (BRLPS), an autonomous body under the Department of Rural Development, is spearheading a World Bank-aided rural livelihoods project with the objective of social and economic empowerment of the poor. Women associated with the project are called Jeevika Didis.

Encouraging Jeevika Didis associated with the centre, the CM said, “The government is providing all possible facilities. We are making every effort to promote self-employment among you.”

Later in the day, Kumar launched 272 development projects/schemes worth around Rs 153 crore in Arwal district. These included the inauguration of 250 programmes valued at Rs 90 crore and laying the foundation stones for 22 projects worth Rs 63 crore, said the statement.

The CM also inaugurated and inspected the upgradation work carried out at the government’s higher secondary school at Itwan. During the inspection, he reviewed the astronomy laboratory and smart learning hub at the school.

The chief minister directed officials to complete the work of all ongoing projects on time. He also reviewed the land identified for the Government Medical College and Hospital at Belkhara.

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Sultanpur (UP) (PTI): Hearing in the defamation case involving Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, which was scheduled to take place on Monday at the MP-MLA Court in Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur district, could not take place due to the non-appearance of the plaintiff Vijay Mishra.

The court will now hear this matter on March 27.

Santosh Kumar Pandey, the advocate of the plaintiff, on Monday said that he had submitted a formal application to the court during the previous hearing.

This application requested that the audio and video recordings of the statements made by Rahul Gandhi, which have been presented as evidence, be matched with Rahul Gandhi's authentic voice.

Due to Vijay Mishra's absence, the court has scheduled the next hearing for March 27, when the arguments in the case will be presented.

On February 20, Gandhi, the MP from Raebareli, had appeared before the court and recorded his statement, claiming the case was filed against him due to political vendetta. He had also told the court that the audio and video evidence submitted by the complainant was incorrect and said he would present his own evidence.

The case stems from Gandhi's alleged objectionable remarks against then BJP president Amit Shah during the 2018 Karnataka election campaign.

Following the remarks, Mishra, a resident of Hanumanganj under Kotwali Dehat police station area in Sultanpur, filed the defamation complaint.

In December 2023, the court had issued a warrant against Gandhi after he failed to appear before it. He later surrendered before the court in February 2024 and was granted bail on two surety bonds of Rs 25,000 each.