Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is brimming with a “new found” confidence these days ahead of any final decision is taken on the issue of special status to the State, already advising people to make themselves competent enough to take full advantages of the situation once the State is accorded the special category.
In his address to a large number of people belonging to the Vaishya community at Ravindra Bhawan in Patna on Wednesday, Nitish returned to his favourite subject of special status but this time with a piece of advice for members of the business community.
“You will not be able to exploit benefits accruing from the special status if you do not start preparations for the big occasion from now itself,” he reasoned. Nitish has also asked the UPA Government recently to initiate steps in the direction of according special status to Bihar.
His comment was preceded by Union Planning Minister Rajeev Shukla’s statement in Parliament that the requests of Bihar, Odisha and Rajasthan for special status category were under consideration at the Planning Commission.
“It is only a matter of time when the State is accorded the special status, I am absolutely certain that Bihar will be accorded special status either pre- or post-lok Sabha election as nobody can ignore the consistent demand of the people in this regard,” he remarked amid thunderous applause.
Nitish has already declared that his party, the JD(U) will extend support to any party or alliance in the Government formation after the 2014 lok Sabha election, which accepts the State’s demand of the special status.
He said that investors will get tax concessions if Bihar is accorded the special status, thus creating an investment friendly climate in the State. “People of the State, however, should equip themselves fully for getting the complete benefits,” he added.
Nitish is also scheduled to resume his “Seva Yatra” from Gopalganj on May 1 after a break of nearly six months. He had suspended his “Seva Yatra” to start his “Adhikar Yatra” for inviting people to attend the “Adhikar Rally” in Patna on November 4 last year.