It is wrong to blame Lalu for what is happening in Bihar, the ones to be blamed are the average denizens of the state. What can Lalu do when people of his state just don't seem to aspire for better living conditions? Being a politician he has to give the people what will win him their votes. If casteist politics does the trick then that is what he is going to give. If lack of development does the trick, then he must make sure that there is no development at all.

Taking to a reporter he is reputed to have bragged, `bikas ka rajniti se kya matlab hai.' (What has politics to do with progress?) And he was absolutely right in ejaculating those words. Progress has nothing at all to do with the politics of Bihar. People of Bihar don't want any progress; they are quite content with their abysmal state of affairs.

The most laughable of all is the news that some Bihari NRIs in US are busy collecting funds for undertaking charitable projects in their state. Why bother! I want to ask them. They will only be pouring their money into a dark bottomless hole, out of which nothing ever comes out.

But there is one thing worthy of taking note of. The NRIs from Karnataka and Maharashtra tend to start viable businesses in their states, so that the economy improves and there is general prosperity. Not so in case of Bihari NRIs, who would rather appease their conscience by squandering some nickels and dimes in the form of charity.