Bihar did not get the status of special state, politics heated up
The NDA government at the center said on Monday that according to the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) report of 2012, Bihar cannot be given special status. This decision of the central government has given a big blow to Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (U), which is a major ally of the BJP in the NDA, which is ruling in Bihar. Let us tell you that JDU has been demanding special state status for Bihar for a long time. Now politics is at its peak on this issue. While Bihar’s main opposition party RJD has taunted JDU, BJP has also put forth its point. JDU says that we will stick to our demand.
No special state status, politics heated up
The Rashtriya Janata Dal has taken a dig at JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after the Centre ruled out any plan to grant special status to Bihar, a key demand of its key ally Janata Dal (United). JD(U) MP from Bihar’s Jhanjharpur Rampreet Mandal had asked the finance ministry whether the government had any plans to grant special status to Bihar and other most backward states to boost economic growth and industrialisation. In a written reply, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Choudhary said, “A case for special status for Bihar does not make out.”
Lalu asked Nitish to resign
Now RJD supremo Lalu Yadav has demanded resignation from Nitish Kumar. RJD supremo Lalu Yadav issued a statement on social media and said that ‘Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar shamelessly gave Bihar a ‘special state’ toy! If not special state status, then give anything to Bihar in the name of special package! JDU bowed down to BJP saying this. Nitish Kumar should resign immediately, he had said that he will get special state status but the Center refused!’
In its second tweet, RJD said, “Bihar will not get special state status! – Modi government in Parliament. Nitish Kumar and JDU can now comfortably enjoy power at the Centre and continue doing hypocritical politics on ‘special state status’!”
KC Tyagi said this big thing
Regarding the special state status of Bihar, JDU leader KC Tyagi said, the answer given by the Finance Minister to the written question today has brought up the old issue. Bihar needs a lot of infrastructure and unemployment needs to be eliminated. Every person in Bihar is in favor of the special state status. Our struggle was there earlier as well and will continue in the future too. CM Nitish Kumar talks about the special state status from every platform, our efforts will continue in the future as well.
On the other hand, Pappu Yadav has said that this is a betrayal of the people of Bihar. Once again the central government has shown Nitish Kumar his place. Pappu Yadav said that Bihar should now be given the status of a special state.
What has the central government said
In a written reply to Jhanjharpur Lok Sabha MP Rampreet Mandal, Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Choudhary said, “Special category status for plan assistance was granted to certain states in the past by the National Development Council (NDC). Several features require special consideration. These features include (i) hilly and difficult terrain, (ii) low population density and/or large proportion of tribal population, (iii) strategic location on borders with neighbouring countries, (iv) economic and infrastructural backwardness and (v) non-viable nature of state finances.”
The minister said, “This decision was taken based on an integrated consideration of all the factors listed above and the special situation of the state. Earlier, Bihar’s request for special category status was considered by an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG), which submitted its report on March 30, 2012. The IMG concluded that based on the existing NDC criteria, a case for special category status was not made out for Bihar.”
JDU leader said-amend the policies
JDU leader Neeraj Kumar said on the decision of the central government that the policies under which Bihar cannot be given the status of a special state should now be amended. The people of Bihar are expecting this and our leader Nitish Kumar has been demanding this for a long time. The Center should think about the development of Bihar. JDU, which has been demanding special state status for Bihar for a long time, reiterated its demand during the all-party meeting on Sunday before the Parliament session.
Nitish and Chandrababu Naidu had made the demand
The BJP won 240 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, short of the majority mark of 272. It is dependent on the support of the JD(U) and the Telugu Desam Party, which together have 28 members in the lower house. Apart from the JD(U), the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP has also demanded special status for Andhra Pradesh, which was bifurcated in 2014 and a new state of Telangana was created. The Janata Dal (United) has reminded the BJP-led NDA government of its “promise” to fulfil Bihar’s special status demand.
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