NCP raises demand for ‘special status’ for Bihar, says Nitish should follow Naidu’s footsteps

Referring to the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the ‘special package’ of Rs 1,65,000 crore to be given to Bihar, Nationalist Congress Party on Wednesday said that nothing has been done in this regard and the special status that was to be granted to the state had also not been given yet.

Addressing a press conference here, Member of Parliament and the national general secretary of the NCP Tariq Anwar said,’this (granting special status to Bihar) should have been done a long time ago. The situation of Bihar is miserable with highest migration due to lack of jobs and other facilities in the state.’

He reiterated that post 2000 , following the division of the sate and forming of Jharkhand all the industry, minerals , and other resources of the state went to Jharkhand and Bihar was left with nothing but poverty and misery.

Mr Anwar said that he has written to the PM , reminding him of the special status to be given to the state and also stated why there was a dire need for the same for the backward state.

‘The long pending matter will be raised by us in the monsoon session of the Parliament and if required we will begin a mass movement for the fulfilment of our demands and rights of Bihar’, said Mr Anwar.

Setting Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday as deadline , he said,’ that government should answer regarding the issue , else this will have to be turned into a mass movement.’

He said that all the parties should rise above the party politics and together work on the issue for the benefit of the state.

Taking a dig at Bihar Chief Minster Nitish Kumar , he said,’why is he silent over the matter now. Earlier, during the UPA regime, he raised the issue and used to give representation on the matetr of special status to the then government. However, he is now keeping mum’

‘We expect Nitish Kumar to do something on the lines of what Andhra pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and the ruling party did’, he said adding that Nitish Kumar should also part ways from the NDA like Naidu did if they do not fulfill the demands of Bihar.

‘Only if the special status is given to the state of Bihar can it move forward. It will help the state to stand together with other developed states,’he said.

‘This is the most appropriate time to implement this as NDA has the government in the state as well as the centre’, said Mr Anwar .

Courtesy: UNI