- July 22, 2024
‘Case not made out … ‘: Centre cites 2012 report on Bihar’s demand for ‘special category status’; RJD takes potshots at Nitish Kumar | India News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday stated that Bihar’s demand for “special category status” is not made out as it has been considered and rejected in the past. This comes a day after all parties of the state, including two allies of the BJP – Nitish Kumar‘s Janata Dal (United) and Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party, renewed their demand for special category status to the state in the all-party meeting ahead of Monsoon Session of Parliament.
“The request of Bihar for Special Category Status was considered by an inter-ministerial group (IMG) which submitted its Report on March 30, 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,” minister of state for finance Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written reply to a question from Ramprit Mandal, JD(U) MP from Bihar’s Jhanjharpur.
“Special category status for plan assistance was granted in the past by the National Development Council (NDC) to states based on some 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 neighboring countries, (iv) economic and infrastructural backwardness and (v) non-viable nature of state finances,” the minister highlighted in his reply.
“The decision against special category status to Bihar was taken based on an integrated consideration of all the factors listed above and the peculiar situation of the state,” the reply further states.
The Centre’s reply in Lok Sabha comes as a setback to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who, with 16 MPs, plays a key role in the survival of BJP-led NDA government. It was hoped that Nitish Kumar’s old demand would be met by the BJP-led government. With the special status demand central to state’s politics, the Centre’s reply will put the chief minister on the defensive vis-a-vis the opposition in the state.
‘You have failed, Nitish ji’
RJD chief Lalu Prasad was quick to attack Nitish Kumar and demanded the chief minister’s resignation. RJD called it blatant dishonesty with people of Bihar and said it will fight for special status for the state. “When this government was formed with the support of 2 AB (Andhra Pradesh and Bihar), we thought that Bihar’s demand would be fulfilled. But sorry to say Nitish ji, you have failed,” RJD leader Manoj Jha said. “They cite NDC report. Who are you trying to fool? If you could change decades-old decision on RSS, why not change the NDC decision? the RJD leader asked.
“BJP and PM Modi want to treat Bihar as a labour supply state. They should remember that any dream of developed India cannot happen without the development of Bihar,” he said.
‘Confident that Bihar would get a special package’
However, LJP, which is part of the government at the Centre, hoped that Bihar would get a special package in the upcoming Budget like several other states in the past.
“Special Status was a term that existed until the Planning Commission. After the formation of NITI Aayog, nobody has been provided anything under Special Category Status but states have definitely received special package to speed up development. We are all public representatives, we have to be the voice of the people. It is our duty to make people’s voice reach Parliament. It is our demand and we will keep demanding it. We have lots of hopes with the upcoming Budget … The manner in which Bihar has stood strongly with the NDA, NDA too would stand strong with Bihar in the time to come and Bihar would receive special package,” LJP (RV) MP Shambhavi Choudhary said.
(With inputs from agencies)
“The request of Bihar for Special Category Status was considered by an inter-ministerial group (IMG) which submitted its Report on March 30, 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,” minister of state for finance Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written reply to a question from Ramprit Mandal, JD(U) MP from Bihar’s Jhanjharpur.
“Special category status for plan assistance was granted in the past by the National Development Council (NDC) to states based on some 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 neighboring countries, (iv) economic and infrastructural backwardness and (v) non-viable nature of state finances,” the minister highlighted in his reply.
“The decision against special category status to Bihar was taken based on an integrated consideration of all the factors listed above and the peculiar situation of the state,” the reply further states.
The Centre’s reply in Lok Sabha comes as a setback to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who, with 16 MPs, plays a key role in the survival of BJP-led NDA government. It was hoped that Nitish Kumar’s old demand would be met by the BJP-led government. With the special status demand central to state’s politics, the Centre’s reply will put the chief minister on the defensive vis-a-vis the opposition in the state.
‘You have failed, Nitish ji’
RJD chief Lalu Prasad was quick to attack Nitish Kumar and demanded the chief minister’s resignation. RJD called it blatant dishonesty with people of Bihar and said it will fight for special status for the state. “When this government was formed with the support of 2 AB (Andhra Pradesh and Bihar), we thought that Bihar’s demand would be fulfilled. But sorry to say Nitish ji, you have failed,” RJD leader Manoj Jha said. “They cite NDC report. Who are you trying to fool? If you could change decades-old decision on RSS, why not change the NDC decision? the RJD leader asked.
“BJP and PM Modi want to treat Bihar as a labour supply state. They should remember that any dream of developed India cannot happen without the development of Bihar,” he said.
‘Confident that Bihar would get a special package’
However, LJP, which is part of the government at the Centre, hoped that Bihar would get a special package in the upcoming Budget like several other states in the past.
“Special Status was a term that existed until the Planning Commission. After the formation of NITI Aayog, nobody has been provided anything under Special Category Status but states have definitely received special package to speed up development. We are all public representatives, we have to be the voice of the people. It is our duty to make people’s voice reach Parliament. It is our demand and we will keep demanding it. We have lots of hopes with the upcoming Budget … The manner in which Bihar has stood strongly with the NDA, NDA too would stand strong with Bihar in the time to come and Bihar would receive special package,” LJP (RV) MP Shambhavi Choudhary said.
(With inputs from agencies)
