Special category status to Bihar: Nitish calls for bandh in Patna

Patna, Feb 22: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday gave a call for bandh on March 2 and BJP for 'chakka jam' on February 28 in Bihar.

This follows the UPA government's decision to grant special category state status to Seemandhra.

Kumar alleged that the Centre discriminated against Bihar which deserves special status. The issue of Bihar and other backward states was considered by the six-member Raguram Rajan committee which submitted its report in September last year, but the union government did not initiate any follow-up measure.

JD (U) has collected signatures of 1.18 crore people, supporting special status to Bihar, said Nitish. Two big rallies will be organised in Patna and New Delhi, said sources.

The Bihar assembly also passed a unanimous resolution supporting the issue. But the state's demand was neglected by the Centre and the prime minister did not even meet an all-party delegation from the state over the issue, the CM said.

Almost one year ago, in June 2013, when Nitish split away from BJP, prime minister had showered praises on him and had also called him ' a secular leader'. Nitish had, in turn, thanked the PM saying, ""What Dr. Singh said has brought me a lot of satisfaction. I thank him for speaking the truth. The PM only spoke of what I am". He added that he felt a 'deep sense of satisfaction from the praise.

It has now turned out that the relationship between the two has become sore with PM's cold response to Bihar's demand for special category status.

Oneindia News