Suspecting that the special package by the Centre may not be implemented in Bihar because of the defeat of the BJP, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday put the Centre in binding by saying that a panel of the two Houses of legislature should be constituted to monitor its implementation.
The special package of Rs1.25 lakh crore had been announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi just before the announcement of the Bihar Assembly polls amid much fanfare.
Replying to the debate on the address of the Governor to the joint session of the legislature, the CM urged Speaker Vijay Chaudhary to constitute a committee of members of the Assembly and council exclusively to monitor the implementation of the projects identified under the special package.
Though he did not say he suspected its implementation, the CM mentioned that a lot of talks were made during the election campaign about this package. He said, “One senior BJP leader of Bihar even said that the Nitish Kumar Government would not be capable to implement this package.” Nitish said many BJP leaders also had been saying that the package would not come if the BJP-led Government was not formed in order to blackmail the voters.
“We welcome this package, although many old projects have been included in it, and we want work should be done on it. There should not be any politics on this issue,” said the CM. He also referred to the Centre’s letter about the package and the projects and funds earmarked in it and said he also wrote a letter to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Jaitley in his reply, Nitish said, stated that the fund for this package would come from different Ministries and their implementation would be undertaken by the Central agencies.
“It means that the fund would neither be transferred to the State Government not it is supposed to implement the works. In this context it is very pertinent to have a legislative committee to monitor the implementation of the works. Even if any project is being undertaken by the State Government it would also be monitored by the same panel,” he said.
But the CM’s announcement was not taken kindly by the BJP. The leader of opposition Prem Kumar who interrupted the CM however, did not say a single word about it and instead tried to corner the government over law and order. later on the BJP members staged a walk out while raising a different issue. The Speaker commented that leader of opposition would also be included in the panel.
Earlier the CM said his government would fulfill the promises it made particularly his seven commitments on whcih Rs 2.70 lakh crore would be spent in five years. These commitments include welfare schemes for students and youth, women and rural population. Power connection and tap water to each rural household also included in the proposed welfare programmes.
Nitish also reiterated his resolve to maintain rule of law and curb crime with iron hands. “The rule of law is here and it will be maintained. Attempts are being made to scare away people,” he said.
Nitish also referred to the statement of a senior BJP leader of Bihar that Maha gathbandhan would not win even if Barack Obama or Nawaz Sharif come to campaign for it. “We won with the help of the people and crackers exploded everywhere in India but not in Pakistan,” said Nitish with a pinch of sarcasm.