Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reiterated his predecessor’s demand of special category status to the State. Simultaneously, the CM also sought a special package for the State.
Pitching for the Centre’s acceptance of the demand of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Manjhi told Modi that special status was necessary for progress of the State as it would push investments in the underdeveloped State and open new employment avenues for the youth. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) termed the meeting a “courtesy call”.
Modi had himself promised during his campaign in Bihar that his Government would take special care for the State’s development. While congratulating Modi on assuming the new charge, Manjhi in a letter to him said the nation cannot progress unless “all people and regions develop equitably and participate equally in its development”.
Though Bihar grew at an impressive rate of 12.11 per cent during the 11th five-year plan against the national growth rate of 7.94 per cent, he said it will still take it 25-30 years to catch up with the national growth figures.“Bihar wants to grow its contribution to nation’s GDP and our efforts should be supported with appropriate policies,” he was quoted as saying in the official statement.Manjhi also sought reimbursement of Rs969.77 crore the State had spend from its limited resources for the upkeep of 2,437.11 km of national highways till 2010. Despite raising the issue with Surface Transport Minister in the past the issue remained unaddressed, he told the Prime Minister.
He also sought expediting construction of rail and road bridges over the River Ganga at Patna and Munger. Manjhi urged Modi to effectively regulate a special cell in the Planning Commission under direct supervision of Deputy Chairman to prepare a special plan for loss to Bihar due to its bifurcation to carve out Jharkhand in 2000. The cell has been defunct, he said.