Nitish must say 'thank you' for Modi's 'historic inititive': Ravi Shankar Prasad

Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Thursday that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for announcing a special package for Bihar in Arrah.

"Leave aside complimenting PM Modi, the Bihar CM hasn't said a thank you for such a historic initiative," Prasad told media here.

He also criticized the newly formed Nitish-Lalu- Rahul alliance saying "everybody in Bihar is happy except these three."

Prasad launched a tirade against Nitish for coming to Delhi to demand special status and ignoring the notification equal to that of 'special status' from the Centre in 21 districts of Bihar.

He told the media that the government has issued a notification under the Article 32 and 32 B by income tax department, which includes 21 districts of Bihar, recommended by the state, through which extra allowances for industrial development will be given.

"Industries set up in these districts will be given more than 15 percent as investment and depreciation allowance," said Prasad.

"If you invest more than 25 crores in these 21 districts, the allowances double, and he (Nitish Kumar) came to Delhi for a special status demand," he added.

Prasad compared these extra allowances for industrial developments with as equivalent to the grant of special status.

On Tuesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a special package of Rs. 1.25 lakh crores for Bihar, and assured the people of the state of implementing the package fully.