PM Narendra Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar during a meeting in New Delhi File – PTI
NEW DELHI: As the BJP’s key ally in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), JD (U) demanded a special status category for Bihar, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, in a written reply, said that special status cannot be granted to Bihar as per the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) report 2012.
Chaudhary in a written reply to the question of JDU MP Ramprit Mandal informed Lok Sabha, “The Special Category Status for plan assistance was granted in the past by the National Development Council (NDC) to some States that were characterized by a number of features necessitating special consideration. These features included (i) hilly and difficult terrain, (ii) low population density and/or sizeable share of tribal population, (iii) strategic location along borders with neighbouring countries, (iv) economic and infrastructural backwardness and (v) non-viable nature of State finances. The decision was taken based on an integrated consideration of all the factors listed above and the peculiar situation of the State. Earlier, the request of Bihar for Special Category Status was considered by an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) which submitted its Report on 30th March 2012. The IMG came to the finding that based on existing NDC criteria, the case for Special Category Status for Bihar is not made out.”
Notably, the YSRCP and BJD have also demanded special category status for Andhra Pradesh and Odisha respectively, at an all-party meeting on Sunday.
Earlier on Sunday, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Kumar Jha said that Bihar seeks both special state status and a special package. He also said that the demand for special status for Bihar has been there since the division of Bihar and Jharkhand.
“This demand of Bihar (special state status) is called unrealistic by many people… This demand has been there since the division of Bihar and Jharkhand… Apart from political parties, we want a change in the policies of the central government which considers Bihar as a centre of labour supply… We want both, special state status and special package,” Jha told ANI.
The Budget Session of Parliament that began on Monday will have 16 sittings spread over 22 days. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that this session will mainly be devoted to financial business relating to the Union Budget for 2024-25 which will be presented to Lok Sabha on July 23.
RJD supremo Lalu Prasad took a jibe at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after the Centre rejected JD(U)’s longstanding demand for special category status for the state.
Responding to queries from journalists about the Centre’s statement in Parliament regarding JD(U)’s demand, Prasad criticised the CM, saying, “Nitish Kumar appears to have compromised Bihar’s aspirations and the trust of its people for the sake of power. He had promised to secure special status for Bihar, but now that the Centre has denied it, he should resign.”
(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
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