Nitish Kumar committed to development of Bihar: PM

Patna, Oct 14 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi todaypraised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his "commitment" toBihar's development, as the two le...
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Patna, Oct 14 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi todaypraised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his "commitment" toBihar's development, as the two leaders shared the stage forthe first time after the JD(U) returned to the NDA fold.

Modi, who attended the centenary celebrations of thePatna University (PU) here along with Kumar, said the Centreand the state government led by Kumar will work together witha pledge to bring Bihar on par with the other prosperousstates by 2022.

"Nitishji is committed to development of Bihar... and thecentral government has pledged to develop the country.

Together the two will work together to ensure that Bihar iscounted among the prosperous states by 2022 when the countrycelebrates 75 years of independence," the prime minister said.

Modi said that Bihar has been blessed by Saraswati, theGoddess of learning.

"But the time has come to propitiate Laxmi (Goddess ofwealth and prosperity) as well and take the state to newheights of development," he said.

Addressing the gathering, Kumar said that "it is a day ofgreat honour" that the prime minister is present for PatnaUniversity's centenary celebrations.

He also made a fervent plea to Modi "with folded handsthat central status be granted to Patna University".

However, Modi, during his address, said that measureslike grant of central status were "a thing of the past" andhis government has taken "a step forward" towards making 10private universities and 10 government ones world class.

"I would like to say something about a demand that wasraised here and met with loud cheers by the young crowdattending this ceremony. Issues like grant of central statushave become a thing of the past. We are taking a step forward.

"We will provide an assistance of Rs 10,000 crore to 10private universities and an equal number of government onesfor a period of five years. All these universities have to dois to demonstrate their potential to become world class," hesaid, addding, "I exhort Patna University to seize thisopportunity."Modi began his speech on a humorous note, saying "thechief minister said in his speech that I was the first PrimeMinister to visit this university. It seems my predecessorshave left quite a few tasks for me".

Earlier, the prime minister was welcomed by BiharGovernor Satya Pal Malik and the chief minister among othersat the Patna airport from where he drove straight to the PatnaScience College campus.

This is the prime minister's first full-fledged officialtour to the state since the BJP became a part of the rulingcoalition in Bihar in July this year after Kumar-led JD(U)snapped its alliance with Lalu Prasad's RJD and the Congress.

In August, Modi along with Kumar had made an aerialsurvey of the flood-hit districts of Bihar.

The prime minister had promised a "package" of Rs 1.25lakh crore in 2015 for the state during the campaign for theassembly elections in which the BJP and the JD(U) were pittedagainst each other.

The two parties remained partners in Bihar for 17 yearsbut the JD(U) severed ties in mid-2013 over elevation of Modias BJP's prime ministerial candidate. PTI JC/NACRT.

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.

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