Patna,(BiharTimes): Actor-cum-Independent MLA Vinay Bihari on Tuesday strongly denounced the state government’s move to spend lavishly on Bollywood stars for Bihar Diwas celebration at the cost of the local talents.

He said in a call attention notice in Assembly that it is condemnable that the official celebration of Bihar Diwas does not provide a platform for regional artistes.

The MLA charged that the Art and Culture department was spending an exorbitant sum of money with hefty commissions paid for hiring Bollywood singers like Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam, Daler Mehndi, Shubha Mudgal, Shobhna Narayan and Rajan-Sajan to celebrate the foundation day of Bihar.

Art and Culture minister Sukhda Pandey said the answer to the call attention notice has been transfered to the Education department.

Later talking to media outside the House he asked had the state government spent even 10 per cent of the money they are paying to Bollywood stars on Bihari artistes in Maghi, Bhojpuri, Maithali, Angika and Vajika, the event would have been much more better.

Who does not know Bhojpuri singers Manoj Tiwari, Bharat Sharma, Maithli singer Gyaneshwar Dubey, Hemkant Jha and Maghi Ajit Kumar Akela? he asked.