Bihar Dy CM and Nitish differ on special status demands

Patna (12 Dec 2012) - Bihars Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi was a different voice on Saturday regarding Chief Minister Nitish Kumars longstanding demand for special status in the east.

She stated that the central government had given her "much greater privileges, including more funds, than a state with special status"After Renu Devi was asked her opinions on the Niti-Aayog report and the JD-U Ministers special status request for Bihar by the media, Renu Devi stated that all development in Bihar has been made possible because of the financial support from the Central government.

Funds from the Central government are allowing construction of 6-8 lane roads in Bihar, under National Highway Authority of India ).hospitals and colleges.This is far more than any special state fund.

Notable is the dissatisfaction expressed by Chief Minister Nitish Kul and his ministers from Janata Dal-United, (JD-U), over the most recent reports on Niti Ahoy.According to the most recent Niti Aayog Report, 52% of Biharis live below poverty line.

Also, the state ranks last in terms of health, education, and infrastructure.Bijendra Kumar Yadav was Fridays energy and planning minister under the Nitish Kumar government.

He said that it was not acceptable how NitiAayog had evaluated Bihars development.Yadav stated in a memorandum of nine pages that the report was based upon data from 2015.

This is a completely unacceptable way for a leading Institute to assess Bihar.Bihar is considered a backward country.To achieve the national average development, it needs special status.

Yadav stated that justice for Bihar will only be achieved if it is granted special status.

"The state has been gradually developing in every sector every year but the Niti Aayog has used old parameters to evaluate Bihar.

The evaluation process of Niti Aayog was wrong.Hence, we have strong objection on it," Yadav said.

Earlier, Ashok Chaudhary, the building construction minister in the Nitish Kumar government had said: "Whatever Bihar has achieved on development front, are being done by its own resources in last 16 years.We need financial help of the Centre in future.

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