Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday issued an ultimatum the Central government on the issue of granting a special status to Bihar.
He made this announcement while addressing the Chief Minister Entrepreneur scheme programme in Patna on Thursday. He said that his party had been requesting the Centre for special status but nothing happened.
Demand for special status has been a key issue for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
“If the central government fails to fulfil our demand for special status, we will launch a state-wide campaign. Their indifference towards our demand would also mean that the Centre doesn’t want Bihar’s development,” Nitish Kumar said.
He emphasised that providing special status to Bihar, a state with significant challenges, would enable it to progress.
“If Bihar gets the special status, it can move forward like any other developed state,” Nitish Kumar added.
While addressing a gathering during the event he said that there was a time when Bihar was ahead of other states. But the state is lagging and needs special status for development and growth
He said the Bihar government completed the caste-based survey and it will benefit everyone. He said that the survey report will be effective after state governor Rajendra Arlekar signs it.
When the caste-based survey and the socio-economic data report were tabled in the Bihar assembly Nitish Kumar had encouraged the members of the BJP to urge the Centre to grant special status to the state for “better growth”.
By raking up special status, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has hinted that the issue would be one of the main agenda for the Mahagathbandhan during the 2024 Lok Sabha and 2025 Bihar assembly elections.
Many JD(U) leaders believe Bihar meets the criteria because of its poor infrastructure. They said that the “special status category will help the state get various tax concessions which may attract investments and industries”.
Bihar has not seen any big-ticket investment despite Nitish Kumar’s effort to woo industrialists. The state has been looking for an option to make up for the revenue loss to the tune of Rs 5,000 Crore due to liquor prohibition since 2016.
