Bihar CM press Centre for more relief to Bhagalpur riot victims

New Delhi, June 17 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today demanded payment of compensation to the Bhagalpur riot victims on the lines of the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots and urged the Centre to establish a CRPF training camp and a Disaster Management Institute in the state.

Talking to reporters after meeting Home Minister Shivraj Patil for an hour this morning, Mr Kumar said he had earlier written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about four months back urging him to provide similar compensation to the victims of the Bhagalpur riots as was given to the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims. Today he met Mr Patil to reiterate his demand.

Mr Kumar said he has also asked the centre to establish a CRPF training centre in the state and to return the CRPF battalions which were deployed for election duty in other states. These are required for improving law and order machinery in the state, he pointed out.

The Chief Minister also demanded setting up of a Disaster Management Institute in the state to help it effectively deal with floods and earthquakes.

Mr Kumar also welcomed the appointment of Republican Party of India leader R S Gawai as the Governor of Bihar and assured him full cooperation of his government. He said the state would be benefitted from his long experience of public life.

''He will not face any problem from my government,'' he noted.

He said his government had good relations with previous governors like Buta Singh and Gopal Krishna Gandhi and it would also cooperate with Mr Gavai.

Asked whether the Centre consulted his government on appointment of the new governor as prescribed under the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission, Mr Kumar said the Centre had not consulted the state government on the issue. However, Mr Patil had previously informed him about the appointment.

UNI AJ MA KP1605