VOICES FROM THE STATES: Nitish Kumar Chief Minister, Bihar
Business Standard / Jul 07, 2009, 03:42 IST
Before commenting on national issues, one is amazed to notice that the Budget does not address the development needs of Bihar even marginally. In contrast to the attention paid to West Bengal for Aila (Rs 1,000 crore) or even rich Delhi for the Commonwealth Games and Chandigarh, Bihar's necessities are wholly ignored.
If Aila could mean Rs 1,000 crore for West Bengal, one fails to understand what prevents the central government from considering Bihar’s claim of a package of Rs 14,800 crore for rehabilitation following devastation caused by the Kosi floods, which was declared a national calamity by the prime minister himself.
States, particularly backward states, were hopeful that after the prime minister’s commitment in reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President, tangible steps for mitigating backwardness and regional equalities would find prominent place in the Budget.
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