Nitish Kumar slams Modi govt for 'giving benefit' to industrialists

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday criticised Narendra Modi-led BJP government for giving benefit to a section of industrialists at the cost of ordinary people. "Nobody at the top is thinking about the people. They say one thing, do something else. They are out to please a few. There is a need for all inclusive development," Kumar told a rally of party workers at the Gandhi Maidan here.

"The Union Budget presented yesterday is for the benefit of corporate houses. They are cutting down corporate tax from 30 per cent to 25 per cent. Wealth Tax has been removed and surcharge has been imposed on some people. This budget will affect the expansion of service sector and hit people with inflation," he said.

Quoting figures, which he said were from reliable agencies and available easily on internet, Kumar pointed out that the wealth of the top 10 to 12 billionaires in the country had gone up by Rs 42,460 crore over the last nine months since the BJP-led government came to power in the Centre.

"Wealth of one particular capitalist, whose name everybody takes, but I'll not take, has risen by Rs 16,740 crore over this short period," he said. Kumar said it seemed 'achhe din' (good days) had come for those for whom it was intended. "It hasn't come for those for whom it was not meant to."

Extending his wishes to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who took oath today, Kumar did not spare the opportunity to flay Modi and played an audio clip in which the Prime Minister was heard lambasting 'father-daughter' and 'father-son' governments during one of his poll rallies there.

"He (Modi) kept talking about integrating Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country and what not. He talked about giving a chance to others instead of 'father-daughter' and 'father-son' governments. But now he has joined them. These people say one thing, do something else," Kumar said. Kumar, who took oath as Bihar CM for the fourth time on February 22, reminisced about situations which forced him to return to the post.

"The party, which gave the biggest thing (CM post to Jitan Ram Manjhi) was left uncared. Its importance was not being understood. There were talks about destroying it. People were being sidelined. I had to take up the charge again because people had started telling me that I'll be able to do something only when anything of the party would remain," he said.

"Party is above all. If it can give the position to you, it can also take it back. If Sharad Yadav asked him (Manjhi) to vacate the post, why did he feel bad?" he asked. Kumar also apologised again for having quit the post of chief minister after the party's poor performance in the 2014 general elections and reiterated that he would not do so again.

"Nobody had sympathy for me having I left the chief minister's post. They criticized me and minced no words in telling that they felt cheated. On the other hand, the environment in Patna was dangerous. A cabinet meeting was called to dissolve the Legislative Assembly," Kumar said.

"My dilemma about coming back evaporated after that. I have accepted from heart the responsiblity which the party and Sharad Yadav have entrusted me. I'll lead from the front and not let Bihar's name be maligned," he said. Kumar also asked party workers to carry his apology to the masses and assure them that he had come back so "there was no need to worry". He pointed out that the opposition forces had been taken aback over his return, as it had spoilt their plan to accuse him of all the mistakes by the government and win in the upcoming Assembly polls.

"Let them (the opposition forces) remain perturbed. Their worries will now keep on increasing day by day. We will fight them and take our state towards progress," he said.