Nitish to lead protest against Centre on special status

Former Chief Minister and senior JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar would lead state wide protest in the state on October 20 against BJP's "betrayal" over according special category status to the state as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during poll campaigns.

"On October 20 people of Bihar in protests organised by JD (U) at every district headquarter will seek 'hisab' (account) from the BJP government," Kumar said on his Facebook post. "People of the state will take them to task for injustice and betrayal over providing special category status to the state," Kumar said.

Party leaders have told that Kumar would, personally, lead the protest in Bihar over this issue. They said that the former Chief Minister would sit under the statue of Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayan near Gandhi maidan on October 20 as part of the agitation.

The JD (U) has also announced that party workers will sit on dharna at every district headquarters on Monday and submit a memorandum against the Centre's denying special category status to Bihar, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised in his campaign during the general election.

Party leaders have been mobilising support across the state for the agitation, the leaders said. The senior JD (U) leader had said that during general election, Narendra Modi promised to the people of the state that providing special category status, special assistance and special attention for betterment of Bihar would be his priority. "Four months have lapsed but no such priority is visible on the three counts," Kumar accused.

The former chief minister, who stepped down from the chair after drubbing in Lok Sabha election, said through strong protest a strong message should reach to every citizen of the state so that no party or leader could dare to play "fraud" with the people. JD (U) has made it clear that special category status would be its central agenda in the crucial Assembly election next year.