Sunday, August 7 2005 15:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Madhepura (Bihar): : Stepping up his offensive against Railway Minister Laloo Prasad, his bete-noire and NDA's (National Democratic Alliance) chief ministerial candidate Nitish Kumar today (Aug 07, 2005) urged the Election Commission to prohibit Prasad from misusing official functions for electoral purposes.

Prasad is grossly misusing the official functions of Railways in Bihar as part of his campaign for the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal). It is in gross violation of the settled norms, Kumar, who is currently leading the NDA's Nyay Yatra (Justice march) against dissolution of the state assembly, told reporters here (Madhepura) before leaving for purnea.

He urged the EC to take immediate steps to prevent the Railway Minister from misusing the official functions in poll-bound Bihar.

Only RJD leaders are invited in the Railway functions for which crores of rupees are spent in advertisements. The EC should take note of it and should stop Prasad from misusing the official functions, Kumar said.

Kumar, Railway minister in the erstwhile NDA Government, also termed as a white lie Prasad's statement accusing former prime minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee of laying the foundation stone for a Rs 323 crore Nirmali railway bridge over Kosi River in Bihar without completing required formalities.

The Nirmali mega rail bridge was approved by the cabinet and a sum of about Rs 325 crore was allotted and then only, Vajpayee had laid the foundation stone in June 2003, Kumar claimed.