Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday obliquely countered his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi’s development plank and declared that his State would present the “real model” of progress that takes everybody along. He also indicated that his support would be crucial for formation of the next government at the Centre.
Mr. Kumar sought a “special status” for Bihar, which was a promise when the State lost a lot of resources to Jharkhand which was carved out of it. “We are not here to beg. Special status is our right and the Centre must give it, and give it to all States that are backward. Only those who feel for such States will rule at the Centre after 2014 [general elections],” he said.
The Chief Minister was addressing a rally on Ramlila Grounds here — dubbed as a show of strength by the Janata Dal (United), which shares power with the BJP in the State.
The country’s economic growth rate had fallen because development was not all around and equitable. “You cannot sustain GDP growth rate on the basis of a few developed States. We want to remove this divide between India and Bharat.”
Looking visibly pleased at the huge crowd, he said: “This is only a trailer and it shows that Biharis are ready to rule Delhi in 2014.”
Significantly, the State unit of the BJP was conspicuous by its absence. The official explanation was that seeking a “special status” was the JD(U)’s election promise in 2006 when the party returned to power in Bihar. Sharing the dais with Mr. Kumar was JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, who is also the convener of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. Among others present were State president Vashisht Narain Singh, several Ministers, MPs and MLAs.
The Chief Minister said the people of Bihar who migrated in large numbers in search of employment due to unfavourable economic policies and lack of industries used to face humiliation. Now the situation had changed. “The reason for the change in perception is because once “bemaro” Bihar is now on the path of progress and with a helping hand from the Centre, could present the real model for development that is equitable and sustainable.”
Welcoming the Centre’s decision to re-visit the parameters determining backwardness of a State as announced by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in his budget speech, Mr. Kumar said it was a “positive step” towards realising the goal of a “special status” for Bihar which would bring in its wake financial assistance and other concessions to the State.
Mr. Kumar’s praise of the UPA government fuelled speculation about the JD(U) coming closer to the Congress when Mr. Modi is being projected by a section of the BJP as the prime ministerial candidate in the next Lok Sabha elections.
The moment he said that "Biharis" are set to rule the country, he is ruled out to become the
PM of this country because he is dividing people on the basis of regions or language and
cannot claim to be different from his partner BJP who appears to be dividing on religion
basis. Let him improve Bihar on the lines of Gujarat which was developed by Modi despite
noncooperation from UPA. Earlier Kamal Hasan talked about 'dhoti-clad' PM for this country
and this kind of division will encourage people to favor Gandhi family who never behaved or
talked as though they belong to a state or language or religion.
Bihar under Nitish has an opportunity to present an alternative model of
sustainable and inclusive development! It needs all the help! The Bihari
diaspora abroad should pitch-in!
After being in power for 8 long years in Bihar, Mr Nitish Kumar now
presents a very poor picture of economic conditions in the state
vis-a-vis the national average.Prior to his split with Mr Lalu Prasad,
he was his comrade.Whom does he seek to blame for the state's economic
'backwardness'?He talks of 'leaving everyone behind'.In our country the
political class thinks that they can talk anything.
Politically Mr Nitish Kumar is at the cross roads.He needs BJP to
retain power in the state and also to keep his political opponents at
bay.He knows that his party can not independently win in the
elections.He can not align with RJD and Congress is not a force to
reckon with in the state.One can not rule out the possibility of his
crossing over to UPA III after winning parliament polls in alliance with
BJP.BJP knows well that Nitish is a shrewd politician.He can do a
Naveen[patnaik] only at his peril.
Dear Mr Nitish Kumar: You may be bucking the long trend of Bihar having been ruled by bad leadership irrespective of parties in power. This possibly makes you very popular in your state but this does not make you necessarily popular all over the country enough to threaten the centre to give your state a special status, for Bihar is neither unique nor is its lagging behind in development unique or due to any specific act of commission or omission on the part of the centre to warrant some sort of "compensatory" package. More than the centre, it is the indifference to development on the part of his own predecessors in the CM's seat in Bihar which is responsible for his state's lagging behind. This may warrant sympathy from the centre but most certainly not his demand for special status/package from the centre as a matter of any "right".
While it may be true that Congress might have given step motherly treatment to
Bihar because of political considerations, it is equally true that previous state
governments led by Mr Lalu Prasad and others have been rampant with
corruption, wasting the scarce plan allocations to Bihar. Otherwise, there is no
reason for sea change seen the moment one enters Tata Nagar in Jamshedpur
(though now in Jharkhand) from the rest of the state. Incidentally, Mr Nitish Kumar,
instead of talking in future tense, ought to have detailed out his "development
model" and explained why he did not implement it all these years instead of just
finding fault with Mr Narendra Modi's model for development. However, the fact
remains justice has not been done to the people of Bihar, other than Almighty
endowing them with very high degree of IQ across the board.
"If you see the per capita income, we are just a little more than one-third of national
per capita income and have the lowest per capita income. Roads, railways, and other
infrastructure are below average. The per capita expenditure for development is half
of national average ... all human development indices are lower"
Mr. Minister, Isnt that exactly why you were elected ? To correct the situation ?
Which State, which community, which caste .... is NOT backward in this country which
deserves Special status? The only class which does not deserve Special status but has
arrogated that to themselves is the political class in India. Each village, ever poor person and
every town in this country is looted, exploited and deprived of basic needs. In the name of
democracy a vote is given but everything is taken from the citizen, nay the Subject by the
rulers.
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