Nitish hits out at Cong on special status issue

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today accused Congress of having applied 'a sudden brake' on grant of special category status to the state under the influence of its 'natural ally', apparently hinting at RJD.

"Things were moving in right direction for grant of special category status to Bihar ... But all of a sudden the Congress-led Centre started applying the brake under influence of its natural political ally," Kumar said in an apparent reference to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) while addressing a JD(U)'Sankalp rally'.

"The special status demand was based on economic needs. Why did Congress stall it on political consideration?" Kumar asked.

He said RJD views on special category status were always negative and after confabulations between it and Congress for 2014 polls started, the issue was 'put on the back burner'.

He said that Union Finance Minister P Chidamabaram was very positive about Bihar's demand for special status to spur economic growth. "Why was then the meeting of Finance Secretary on the subject put on hold?"

With JD(U) National President Sharad Yadav, his state counterpart Bashistha Narayan Singh and film-maker Prakash Jha sharing the dais with him, Kumar asked the people to give all 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state to JD(U) so that none could dare dilly-dally on the special category state issue.