Lalu Prasad Hits Out at Nitish Kumar over Special Category Status for Bihar
The political pot in Bihar has started simmering again as Lalu Prasad Yadav, the seasoned leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, launched a scathing attack against Nitish Kumar, the present Chief Minister of Bihar. This development comes within days of the Centre’s rejection of the Janata Dal United’s [JD(U)] plea to extend special category status to Bihar, which has opened afresh the tenuously ticking time bomb of tensions and debates within the precincts of Bihar politics.
Demand of special category status for Bihar is not a new demand; political parties and leaders raised their voices, quoting the economic backwardness of the state and developmental challenges. Special category status implies special treatment in terms of financial assistance and grants from the central government, which would be provided to accelerate economic growth and infrastructure development in the region.
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The JD(U) had forcefully taken up the state’s case with the Centre, pointing out that it needed additional support to uplift the economy so that living standards of the people could be improved. But political circles in Bihar, particularly of the ruling JD(U)-BJP alliance, reacted with disappointment and even criticism over the Centre’s decision to deny this status to the state.
Recognized leader of the opposition and former chief minister of Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav did not lose any time before flaying Nitish Kumar for the move of the Centre in denying special category status demand. “He failed to put up effectively the cause of Bihar with the Centre. Nitish Kumar meekly surrendered to the apathetic attitude of the central government towards the genuine needs of the state,” said Lalu Prasad in a strongly worded statement.
Criticism by Lalu Prasad Yadav reflects the political chasm between two allies of the ruling coalition in Bihar—JD(U) and BJP—and both have differed on many policy matters.
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