Patna: Amid internal contradictions in the NDA over demand of special status to Bihar, Union Food Processing Industries Minister and president of Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party, a constituent of NDA on Thursday supported Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on the issue of demanding special status for the state.
He felt that the state deserved to be granted the special status due to its backwardness while leaders of BJP, another coalition partner had maintained that there is no need for a special status for Bihar.
Paras told media persons here that Chief Minister Kumar was absolutely right in demanding special status for Bihar as the state is far behind the national average on various development parameters. Even NITI Aayog, in its released recently reports noted that Bihar had the highest population of poor in the country, he added.
“If Bihar is a most backward state of the country, the special status demand is genuine which should be accepted by the Centre”, Paras said adding that he would talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding this issue. Demand for special status was first raised by Chief Minister Kumar long back, he noted.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi, a senior leader of BJP, a constituent of the ruling NDA, had recently dismissed the demand saying that the centre is giving sufficient funds to Bihar for development at an accelerated pace.
Bihar is already getting enough funds from the centre, which the state would have got after being granted special status, she pointed out during an interaction with media persons. Similarly, other
BJP leaders including party MP Ram Kripal Yadav and Bihar
Labour Minister Jeevesh Mishra had also expressed their opinions against the demand.
