Holding non-Congress governments responsible for Bihar’s backwardness during the past 20 years, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has attacked the NDA government for its “failure” to utilise thousands of crores of rupees sent by the Centre to benefit the poor.

“This is time that people of the state decide their future with the elections hardly a couple of days away…the non-Congress ruled governments are responsible for the backwardness and poverty of the state during the past 20 years,” she said, without naming the RJD and NDA.

Gandhi was addressing election meetings at Bhabhua and Buxar during the last leg of her campaign for the state Assembly elections.

Mounting attack on the Nitish Kumar government, Gandhi accused it of making “empty promises and showing sweet dreams to the people.”

“But the fact remains that there is unemployment, poverty, backwardness and the people still have to migrate to other places from here in search of better opportunities and their wards are doing exceedingly well outside and serving the nation,” she said.

In Bihar, however, the situation is far different, she said, adding that there was no job avenue for youths.

“There is lack of energy which proves to be affecting the agriculture sector and industries…the condition of education and health is also not up to the mark,” she said.