The Narendra Modi Government is likely to extend special package to Bihar worth over Rs1 lakh crore. A meeting to make a blueprint for this package, promised by Narendra Modi during lok Sabha campaign in the State, was held in New Delhi on Monday under Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in which most of the Union Ministers from Bihar besides former Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Kumr Modi and bureaucrat-turned-politician NK Singh were present. Niti Ayog vice-president Aravind Panagarhia and Prime Minister’s principal secretary Nripendra Mishra also attended the meeting.
The Centre’s special package is reportedly being shaped in view of the Assembly election due in October.
While stumping in Bihar in May last Narendra Modi had promised “special package, special attention and special status” in all his election speeches.
While Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been vehemently demanding special category status for Bihar for its all round development, he had presented a charter of demand to Prime Minister Modi on March 26 amounting to Rs1,07,887 crore for rural roads, agriculture, urban development, road construction, energy, industries, tourism and panchayati raj institutions. The wish list included Rs41,587 crore for agriculture, Rs32,600 crore for rural roads, Rs12,355 crore for urban development, Rs8,148 crore for road, Rs7,285 crore for panchayat raj and Rs5,912 crore for tourism.
However, Nitish on Tuesday said he came to know about the Centre’s reported plan and the Delhi meeting under Jaitley from newspapers. “I have come to understand that this is not the package but a packaging by the BJP. The briefing of the meeting has also been done with political angle,” commented Nitish.
The CM said that he met the PM and handed him over a memorandum listing the Bihar’s requirements and acquainted him with the losses the State might suffer in view of the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission. “The PM had assured me to look into the demands,” he added.
Nitish said that he had also convened an all party meeting to discuss the issue and prepare a memorandum which was attended by all the parties barring BJP. “Our main demand is the special category status which is also the demand of the 11 crore people of Bihar and we will continue raising this demand. We are demanding special package to help the State and they (BJP) are making busy in packaging,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senior Bihar BJP leader and former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi said the Modi Government is committed for the development of Bihar and seriously working out on a special assistance on the lines of extended to Andhra Pradesh.
Modi, who attended the meeting in Delhi on Monday which was chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, told The Pioneer that proposals from various departments have been sought and they have been given 15 days to submit it.