Photo Credit: The Suncity News
Patna, June 13, 2024: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan on Thursday said that the demand for granting special state status to Bihar has been continuously raised since the state’s bifurcation in 2000, but JDU leaders seem unaware of this long-standing issue.
“In 2000, when the RJD was in power in Bihar and the NDA was at the Centre—with Nitish Kumar as a cabinet minister—Uttarakhand was granted special state status after being carved out of Uttar Pradesh. On April 25, 2000, the Bihar Assembly passed a unanimous resolution seeking special status and sent it to the Centre,” Gagan said.
He added that on February 3, 2002, during the foundation stone-laying of the Digha-Sonpur rail-cum-road bridge at Gandhi Maidan, then Chief Minister Rabri Devi had publicly demanded the special status from Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had called it a “ fair demand” and assured support.
“Again, on April 2, 2002, a unanimous resolution was passed in the Bihar assembly and sent to the Centre. On May 16, 2002, RJD MP late Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh raised the issue under Rule 193 in the Lok Sabha, supported by all parties. Despite this, Bihar was not granted special status. Only Nitish Kumar can explain why that file was closed,” Gagan said.
The Modi government ignored the special status demand despite the ruling JDU being its ally:
He further reminded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised special state status to Bihar during the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, yet failed to deliver.
“Now, even with JDU as an ally in the NDA government, the demand is being ignored,” she added.
Responding to JDU’s questions on Bihar’s development under the UPA, Gagan said, “The achievements of Nitish Kumar’s 2005 government were actually results of the UPA-1 government’s policies. Under Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as railway minister, the railway turned a profit of Rs. 90,000 crore, and three major factories—Madhaura, Bela, and Madhepura—were established in Bihar.”
She listed several schemes implemented under the UPA, including PMGSY (36,000 km of roads), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, NRHM, MNREGA, Indira Awas Yojana, and the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme, noting that 90% of funds were central grants.
“JDU should now tell the people how much Bihar has received under the Modi government,” Gagan said.
RJD leader criticized the Modi government for not releasing the 2010 census data:
On the caste census issue, he added that while the 2010 Census under the UPA included caste data due to pressure from leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav, and Sharad Yadav, the Modi government never released the final report.
“The caste-based survey in Bihar was conducted only because of Tejashwi Yadav’s initiative. Even Nitish Kumar admitted this before the media after meeting the Prime Minister,” she said.
EOM.