Optimistic Bihar CM moves on for inclusive growth

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on his way to attend Assembly session in Patna on July 8, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Nitish reiterates his demand for special status to Bihar

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday alleged that that ‘gross injustice’ was done with Bihar in the Union Budget. “The cause of Bihar has been deliberately ignored in it”, he said.

He asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to have a fresh look into the demands for special status and rehabilitation package for Kosi flood victims.
The promise for ensuring 'inclusive growth' by the UPA government would remain far-fetched unless Bihar progressed, he said.

"Bihar is now on the path of development and it needs financial support from the Centre for building a modern India," he said and alleged that the Centre's 'pick and choose policy' of allocating funds to states reflected that the Congress wanted an exclusive growth and not inclusive growth.

Kumar said he would meet the Prime Minister in near future to seek corrections in the Union Budget to pave the way for Bihar receiving a special state status and rehabilitationpackage for the Koshi flood victims.

The Bihar Chief Minister said the Centre should extend its financial support to Bihar with the same generosity with which it helped states like West Bengal, Orissa, Gujarat and coastal states in tackling cyclone, earthquake and Tsunami.