PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal United chief Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said that the NDA Government at the Centre must not suffer from any misunderstanding with regard to granting Special Staus or giving special assistance to the state, as what was being demanded, was a right and not to be seen as a favour.
"While I will wait to hear details of the so called package announced by Modiji, I emphasize, special assistance is our right & not a favor," Nitish said in a tweet a couple of hours ago.
Nitish revealed his thoughts on the issue just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a special package of Rs. 1.25 lakh crores for Bihar.
“On the holy land of Babu Veer Kuwar Singh and Jay Prakash Narayan, I promise you today that the government in Delhi will give Bihar 1.25 lakh crores.” said Prime Minister Modi while addressing a rally in Arrah.
“Apart from that, Rs.40,000 crores will be given by Centre for projects that are already underway in Bihar. That makes it Rs. 1.65 lakh crores” he added.
Assuring the people of the state Prime Minister Modi said “I promise you that I will implement this package fully. Only development can ensure the welfare of the people of Bihar”.
Expressing his vulnerability for not announcing the package in his last visit since the Monsoon session was on; Prime Minister said “I had said Bihar will be given a package of Rs. 50,000 crores. I could not talk about it last time due to Parliament”.
Prime Minister Modi lamented the UPA government for playing with pride of Bihar by giving only Rs. 12000 crores, from that Rs. 1000 crores was left from Atal Ji’s announced package.
Modi was addressing a public meeting after laying stones for altogether 11 projects of national highways in Bihar. He also inaugurated the 83 km long Muzaffarpur-Sonbarsa national highway after its conversion into two-lane from the previous single lane road.
Kumar, though invited, preferred to skip the function. Bihar's road construction minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh represented the state government at the function, organized by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
Continuing with his tirade against Nitish Kumar, Modi said that the people of Bihar were suffering due to his arrogance.
He recalled that the people of Gujarat had sent a cheque of Rs. five crore seven years ago on August 18 for relief work post the floods in Koshianchal region but it was returned due to arrogance.
“The politicians neglect the pain of common people due to their arrogance,” he said.
“Those who can't leave behind their arrogance, should we continue to support them?” he asked the crowd.
Prime Minister Modi also used the occasion to target the Congress Party, which has joined hands with the Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) under the grand alliance, to contest the Bihar polls.
“Who was responsible for Jayaprakash Narayan’s death?.... It is the Congress Party….Some people are compromising for power with those who threw Jayaprakash Narayan ji in jail. Is it not an insult to JP's legacy?” he asked.
Prime Minister Modi earlier announced Rs. 1.25 lakh crore special package for Bihar.
Addressing the people at Arrah, he said that this package would change fate of Bihar and development work will be speeded up.