JD- U, RJD seek Bihar spl status
Hours after TDP pulled out of the NDA government over the denial of special status category to Andhra Pradesh, another NDA ally, the JD( U), and the Opposition RJD in Bihar revived the demand for a similar status for the state.
Hours after TDP pulled out of the NDA government at the Centre over the denial of special status category to Andhra Pradesh, another NDA ally the JD( U) and the Opposition RJD revived it in the interests of Bihar.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar had made a dramatic turnaround last year and quit the RJDCongress grand alliance which had catapulted him to power in 2015. Among the many reasons he had cited for joining the NDA was the need for greater funds for his state from the Central government.
Mr Kumar has repeatedly demanded special status for Bihar and has also appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard.
On Thursday, JD( U) national spokesperson K. C. Tyagi said: “Bihar cannot progress without special status. We support Andhra Pradesh’s demand. Today Andhra Pradesh is at the same place where Bihar was after its bifurcation. All the resources have gone to Telangana”.
Tejashwi Yadav, leader of Opposition in the Assembly, took to Twitter in blaming Nitish for forgetting the issue to fulfil his political ambitions.
“Chief minister Nitish Kumar had forgotten his long- standing demand for special status for personal gains after he allied with BJP. He has mortgaged the rightful demand of special status to Bihar in lieu of special bungalow in Delhi and Z- plus security cover for himself. Nitish Kumar must apologise to people of Bihar,” Tejashwi said.
The RJD leader also urged the Bihar chief minister to listen to his “inner voice and take a decision like Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandra Babu Naidu”.
RJD leaders also referred to a letter which Tejashwi had sent to Bihar CM urging him to raise the issue with Prime Minister. They said that the chief minister ignored the plea and didn’t bother to reply.
Reacting to the special status demand, Union minister and Lok Janashakti Party chief Ramvilas Paswan said that the state has already got a special package, which is monetarily as beneficial as special status. “But, despite this some people aren’t satisfied and to them, I will just say that India can only grow in NDA’s regime”.