BJP, JD-U protest denial of special status to Bihar

JD(U) calls for bandh on March 1; BJP to stop trains on Feb 28

Both the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are vying with each other to capitalise on the emotional issue of special category status to Bihar just before the general elections.

Senior JD-U leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has called for a ‘Bihar Bandh’ on March 1, while the BJP has decided to stop trains in the state on February 28 to lodge its protest.

“We have no problem with Seemandhra getting special category status but the same has been denied to Bihar despite a favourable recommendation by the Raghuram Rajan Committee,” said an agitated Kumar here on Friday.

Meanwhile, the BJP is also trying capitalise on the issue, promising that if it comes to power, its PM candidate Narendra Modi will accord special status to the state, along with a special package. The party has also given a call of “Rail Roko” on February 28.

“We have decided to protest the Centre’s discrimination by stopping trains across Bihar on February 28 to express the anger of people,” said BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi.

He also accused Kumar of "weakening" the fight for the state's special category status by "hijacking" the issue and making it JD-U’s "political weapon".