Opposition parties on Friday created uproar in Rajya Sabha demanding special economic packages for seven most backward States including Bihar, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, leading to adjournment of the House till noon.
Raising the issue, Kiranmay Nanda (SP) said the Central Government has failed to provide financial package to the seven States identified as backward in the Raghuram Rajan report.
The Rajan panel had in September last year recommended a new index of backwardness to determine which States need special assistance.
The new methodology ranked Odisha as the most backward State. Bihar, which has been seeking special status, was ranked the second most backward State. Other States listed in the category, for which it recommended allocation of a majority of Central funds, included Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.
Nanda wanted the Central Government to act on the recommendations of the Rajan panel report and announce special economic packages for the most backward States.
Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) said Finance Minister P Chidambaram had on a visit to Patna assured Bihar of special assistance, but it has not materialised. He charged the Centre with discriminating against Bihar and other backward States.
Mayawati (BSP) said she was hoping the Prime Minister would announce a package for the seven most backward States along with the package for Seemandhra.
“State creation does not help unless special package is given,” she said, citing poor growth rate in recently-created states of Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand.
She alleged that the Centre is politicising the issue and ignoring Uttar Pradesh as neither the Congress nor the BJP was in power in the State.