PM Modi assured to look into issues concerning Bihar, says Nitish Kumar
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday said that he had very fruitful discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the development of the state, adding that the latter has assured to look into the matter.
"We had discussions for the development of Bihar and the Prime Minister listened to them very carefully. He has said that the matter will be given a thought," Kumar said.
"According to me the discussion went fine. If there is a tax concession, the trade will flourish more and he agreed to it. We have mentioned all the issues in the memorandum.We also have written a letter and it will be forwarded to the Central Government along with the memorandum," he added. The Bihar Chief Minister had met Prime Minister Modi earlier on Friday and sought enhanced central assistance and special status for his state.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Nitish said that he apprised Prime Minister Modi about the 'losses' to the state due to the 14th Finance Commission recommendations. "I had discussions on the cooperation and assistance that we expect (from the Centre). As of now, my concern is that Bihar is not gaining as per the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission," he said.
The Bihar Chief Minister said the special status issue has been a long standing demand from the ruling JD (U) in the state. Nitish also said that he requested Prime Minister Modi to compensate for the huge financial loss to Bihar due to the recommendations and let the special assistance being given under Backward Region Grants Fund (BRGF) continue and increase funds provided to the state.
Nitish, however, downplayed media queries whether he raised the promises made by Prime Minister Modi prior to the Lok Sabha polls for development of Bihar. This was the first official meeting between the Bihar Chief Minister and Prime Minister Modi. The duo had in the past not missed any opportunity to attack each other and Modi's elevation in the BJP had prompted Nitish to pull the JD (U) out of the NDA.
