He said that the plan has been pending for quite a long time.
“The plan to purchase a new plane and a helicopter has been pending for quite a long time. The cabinet decision to approve the proposal to purchase a new plane and a helicopter is in the interest of the state," Kumar was quoted by news agency PTI.
The Chief Minister also slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders for criticizing the state government over its plan to purchase a new aircraft.
“It is quite surprising that they (BJP leaders) are making such statements … one should ask them about the things which they were planning to purchase during the NDA regime in Bihar," he said.
This came in reply to questions from media persons who sought his views on senior state BJP leader and Bihar's former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi remarks that the plane which will be purchased by the state government will be used for Kumar's dream of becoming the prime minister in 2024 elections, PTI reported.
On Wednesday, the senior BJP leader said, “New jet plane, worth more than 250 crore, won't be used in Bihar as the state has few runways, instead, it will be used for Nitish Kumar's dream of becoming PM 2024, which anyway won't be fulfilled. This plane is being purchased for him to travel across the country."
The Bihar cabinet had approved the proposal to purchase a new jet engine plane and a helicopter for the movement of VIPs and VVIPs in its meeting on Tuesday.
When asked about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo' yatra, the CM refused to comment by saying, "This is Congress party's internal affair".
Kumar visited Takht Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib Gurudwara in Patna city area and participated in religious programmes organized on the occasion of 356th Prakash Parv of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhs, as per PTI reports.
Soon after reaching the Gurudwara, Kumar bowed his head before the Holy Guru Granth Sahib. The office-bearers of Prabandhak Committee welcomed the CM.
(With PTI inputs)
