Nitish Kumar led regional Janata Dal United conducted Adhikar Rally in New Delhi on Sunday to demand Special Status for Bihar.
The Chief Minister of Bihar suggested firmly that his support would be crucial for formation of next government at the Centre and JD(U), which is part of BJP-led NDA, was not averse to exploring other tie-ups. "Either you give it (special status) now or after 2014, you will have to give it. You will have to accept the demand in circumstances that will be there after 2014. Only one, who feels about the backward, the backward states will occupy the seat of power in Delhi (Centre)," Kumar said addressing 'Adhikar' rally here, dubbed by many as a show of strength.
He said that Bihar very well deserves the "Special status" as it is one of the most economically backward states of the country. (And by this he wants a stamp of economically backward on all the residents of Bihar!)
Welcoming the Centre's proposal to change the criteria for backwardness as well as granting special status to a state, Kumar said this should be implemented soon and his fight was "not only for Bihar but other similar backward states, too". "If policies change, the benefit will not be limited only to Bihar but other backward states as well," he said. (This can even be taken as his strategy to be at equal distance from both BJP and Congress for 2014 Lok Sabha Elections)
In his over 20-minute speech at Ramlila Ground here invoking regional pride, Kumar said that people from Bihar are ignored everywhere and cited the Centre's refusal to give rehabilitation funds for Kosi flood victims and the repeated refusal of the government in past to accord special status to the state.
"We knocked at every door from that of the Prime Minister to Planning Commission....What is the fault of Biharis? Why Bihar does not get the assistance? We are not begging for something. We are seeking our rights. This is our right. Does Bihar not have a right to develop? We have been discriminated against," Kumar said.
In a resolution passed at the rally, the JD(U) said, "the commitment in the Budget speech must now result in its urgent implementation. We seek a time-bound action to accord a special category status to Bihar. We resolve to continue our struggle till this quest for special status is attained." Focussing on the steps taken by him for good governance, Kumar referred to the bicycle scheme in his state and asked "whether the Centre has any such scheme which has benefited so many people in four years." He said the UPA government will have to implement what they have stated and "if they delay, then the people of Bihar will have to prepare themselves.
Even many Leaders backed Nitish Kumar's demand for Special Status for Bihar.
Union Coal Minister, Sriprakash Jaiswal said the government should not ignore Kumar's demands.
"In democratic system, this is the only way to express voice your demands. If he is conducting a rally, there is nothing wrong in it. The government should think about addressing the demands raised in the Adhikar rally. Why shouldn't the government address this issue? If a state chief is demanding something, we should look into those demands under the limitations of the constitution of the country," said Jaiswal.
Lawmaker and General Secretary of Communist Party of India (CPI), D Raja, said that it is the magnanimity of Kumar to be demanding special status for other states as well.
Leader of Janata Dal United (JD-U) Sabir Ali, supporting the demand for special status, said that no political party has ever seen a crowd of 5 lakhs in a rally.
Sunday's rally, however, was marred by a scuffle between JDU activists and those who were opposed to the party.
The incident occurred when some men entered the rally arena at the Ramlila grounds and showed black flags to senior leaders sitting on the stage.
Police personnel deployed on the site soon spotted the clash and detained the quarrelling bunch of JD-U activists trying to beat the men who barged into the rally.
About Unknown
0 comments:
Post a Comment