PATNA: Congress on Thursday supported special status demand for Bihar raised by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during Niti Aayog meeting in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it was unfortunate that he did not even take notice of his demand and assured that the party would seriously consider it if voted to power at the Centre after Lok Sabha elections next year.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and in-charge of Bihar affairs of the party Shakti Singh Gohil told media persons here that Mr Modi had promised special status for Bihar during last Lok Sabha elections but he did not bother to honour his words after coming to power at the Centre.
Even after four years of his tenure as PM, he appeared indifferent to special status category demand for Bihar, he noted.
"Mr Kumar had convincingly raised the demand of special status for Bihar during meeting of Niti Aayog in New Delhi recently where PM Mr Modi was present but he did not take notice of his demand which was most distressing", Mr Gohil said adding that the PM should have mentioned what his government at the Centre was planning to do on the issue.
Congress leader said his party understood the fact that special status demand for Bihar was a genuine demand of people of the state.
Congress would seriously consider it if the party was voted to power at the Centre after next Lok Sabha elections, he assured and added that a committee of experts would also be consulted by Congress to take suggestions on what could be done for Bihar for its betterment.