Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday cautioned the NDA government in State not to touch the controversial Chottanagpur and Santhal Paragna Tenancy Act (CNT/SPT) at the same time demanded the government to go for liquor prohibition in State on the lines of Bihar.
Nitish, while addressing a gathering at a city-based banquet hall at State JDU workers meet said, “No government in State should touch the CNT/SPT Acts as they have given rights to tribals and moolvasi of State in protecting their land. Interference with CNT/SPT Act will remove the tribals and moolvasis from their land.”
The Bihar Chief Minister said that Bihar has successfully implemented liquor prohibition in State, but the social reform which he had brought three years back could not achieve success if there is no such ban in neighbouring State. He said, “We have come across several instances where people from Bihar visit Jharkhand bordering districts only for consuming liquor.” Nitish also attacked State Government’s liquor policy, under which liquor shops are being opened at every nook and corner of the State, he said.
The JDU workers meeting were organised by JDU Jharkhand unit as part of party’s preparation for year- end Assembly poll. The JDU workers’ meet was attended by JDU leader in Lok Sabha Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh, poll strategist and JDU national vice president Prashant Kishore, Bihar Minister Sanjay Jha, State JDU president Salkhan Murmu among others.
Nitish, while comparing the turnaround Bihar has witnessed after Jharkhand was bifurcated from Bihar said that in last 15 years a lot of work has been done in various areas after NDA Government led by JDU came to power in Bihar. He said Bihar is much ahead than Jharkhand in various areas. Nitish said, “When I came to power there were 12.5 per cent of students who were out of school in Bihar. To bring these students to schools, Tola Sewaks and Talimi Markaz (both volunteers) were appointed so as to bring students from Mahadalits and minority communities to schools.”
The Bihar Chief Minister also highlighted some of schemes such as constriction and opening up of 21,000 primary schools, appointment of 3 lakh primary teachers, poshak and cycles schemes for girls and boys students. Nitish also mentioned about Krishi Road map for agriculture development in State, introducing 50 per cent reservation for women in panchayats and local bodies’, setting up medical and engineering colleges across the State among others.
JDU state president Salkhan Murmu blamed both the JMM and BJP, which have ruled the State for poor development of State. Murmu said, “Bihar has accepted NItish’s model of development and State is witnessing development in all fronts. The party will go to people with Nitish’s model of development especially liquor prohibition in year-end Assembly elections.”
The State president also asked the people to strengthened membership drive in State at the same time reaching people belonging to all section of society.
JDU has already announced to contest Assembly election alone in State. However, presently the party has neither any MLAs nor any MPs in State.