The JD(U) Government in Bihar and other political parties, barring BJP, will send a joint memorandum to the Centre registering protest and expressing concern over the “losses” to Bihar in the light of the recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission. This was decided at an all- party meeting, which was boycotted by the main Opposition party BJP, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, on Monday. After an hour-long meeting, which was also attended by State Finance Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav and battery of senior officials, Nitish told mediamen that as per an initial estimate Bihar would lose about Rs50,000 crore in the next five years as per the scheme of things of the Centre in view of Finance Commission’s recommendation.
“It has been decided to submit a memorandum by all the parties to the Centre in the larger interest of the State,” said Nitish who appealed to the BJP to keep away the political differences and join other parties in raising the issues related to the interest of Bihar. He said, “If BJP thinks that the Finance Commission’s recommendations are in the interest of Bihar its leaders should have expressed their views at the meeting. But the party has adopted a negative attitude on this issue.”
Nitish is meeting the PM on Thursday in course of meeting on Ganga Basin Authority, but he was not sure if he could seek appointment for separate meeting on this issue. “If such a meeting materialise, I will raise this issue,” he said. “Opposition is other thing but the BJP should join us at least on this issue and press the Centre that Bihar’s interest should be taken care of,” said the CM, who was accompanied by leaders of RJD, Congress and CPI, and lamented the boycott by the BJP.
He said, “Our meeting was not against the Centre or any party so there is no logic of BJP for abstaining from this meeting. The parties should not be divided on such an important issue,” he said recalling all the parties, including the BJP, had submitted a joint memorandum to the 14th Finance Commission and said there should not be any objection on submitting joint memorandum in the light of its recommendations.