Rivals unite for spl status to Bihar

[ Wednesday, April 05, 2006 01:57:15 amTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]*

* PATNA: An all-party delegation led by CM Nitish Kumar will meet the PM and
strongly plead for giving a special status to Bihar to get rid of its
backwardness and ensure its all-round development.

This decision emerged after a four-hour debate in the assembly on a
resolution which was adopted unanimously on Tuesday.

Participating in the debate, the CM stressed the need for a heavy doze of
Central assistance as well as investment from private and public sectors to
put Bihar on a par with developed states.

He said, "The development of Bihar is in the interest of everyone, the
policy makers, industrialists and NRIs. If Bihar remains backward the
country's progress will not be possible."

Nitish listed grounds for making such a demand saying Bihar has
international borders with Nepal and Bangladesh, it is struck by recurring
floods, power scenario is critical and also there is a problem of extremism.

"Bihar can overcome these problems once it gets financial support,
investment and subsidy," he added. In a rare gesture of unity and rising
above the political affiliation, the members sitting on both sides rose in
unison and forcefully approved the resolution calling the Centre to include
Bihar in the special category of states.

Members cutting across the party line favoured the move and urged their
central leaders to take up the matter with the Prime Minister.

Although the debate was marred by occasional remarks from certain members
on both sides blaming each other for the backwardness of Bihar.

"Why didn't Lalu Prasad do anything in the past and what is he doing even
now?" or "What did the NDA do when it was in power and why didn't Nitish
Kumar raise this issue as a Central minister?" kind of comments were made.

Even though those members too were heard urging others to rise above the
party line and not indulge in politics.


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