Change criteria to give special status to Bihar: Nitish Kumar

New Delhi, March 17: Stating that Bihar has been "ignored" by the government at the centre, Chief Minister, and Janata Dal-United leader, Nitish Kumar Sunday reiterated the demand for according special status to the state.

Addressing a crowd of thousands at the "Adhikar Rally" in the Ramlila Grounds here, the Bihar chief minister said the present criteria should be changed to give special status to Bihar.

"If you see the per capita income, we are just a little more than one-third of national per capita income and have the lowest per capita income. Roads, railways, and other infrastructure are below average. The per capita expenditure for development is half of national average ... all human development indices are lower," Nitish Kumar said.

"Do we not have the right to develop, to generate employment in Bihar? We have the right to development, we have been ignored," he said.

He said criteria for giving special status to states should be changed so that Bihar can develop.

"If we get special status, we can also become one of the developed states. We have been told that we do not meet all qualifications for getting special status. Change the criteria then," he said.

IANS