Patna: Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi today hit out at Bihar's ruling Grand Secular Alliance for failing to pay salaries to school teachers for over four months alleging the state government was trying to "mislead" people over the issue.
"Lakhs of school teachers will have colourless Holi this year as they have not got their salaries for four months and the state government is trying to mislead people by saying it has not received funds under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan for making payment to the teachers," he said in a release.
The Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, said the government can pay the teachers from Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan funds of Rs. 1,270 crore of the state's share.
Mr Modi, his counterpart in the Assembly Prem Kumar and state BJP chief Mangal Pandey had on Saturday said they would return gifts they had received during the ongoing budget session, to the government, as lakhs of school teachers are going without salary for over four months.
The Education Department had on Friday distributed microwave ovens, costing over Rs. 11,125 each, to the legislators drawing sharp criticism from various quarters.
State Education Minister Ashok Chaudhary had defended the distribution of gifts saying it is customary during budget session and microwave ovens will enable the legislators to heat the food while travelling to their constituencies to inspect mid-day meals.
