Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi today dismissed claims that economic growth had slowed down in his state due to the JD-U breaking its alliance with the BJP as it opposed the choice of Narendra Modi as prime minister.
Speaking at the prestigious London School of Economics (LSE), Manjhi also described Bihar as the fastest developing state in India.
He rejected claims that economic growth had slowed down as a result of the Janata Dal (United) breaking its alliance with the BJP before the general election earlier this year due to the party's opposition to the choice of Narendra Modi as prime minister.
"Bihar remains the fastest developing state in India and is building on (former chief minister) Nitish Kumar's vision to help lift people out of poverty," he said while delivering a lecture titled 'The Bihar Story: The Resurrection of the State, Inclusion and Growth'.
"To strengthen and sustain this growth story we need cooperation and I am here to say that all foreign investment is very welcome. Skilled and unskilled labour leaving the state has been a black spot for us and to keep them we need to create more jobs and opportunities and that is where foreign investment comes in," added the JD(U) leader, who addressed the audience in Hindi.
He recounted aspects such as a "zero tolerance" policy towards corruption and corrupt officials as well investing in thousands of cycles for young girls and boys to be able to commute to school as simple measures that have borne dramatic results for the state.
The chief minister made an impassioned plea for the international community to stand by Bihar as it attempts to regain its "glorious past" and called for advanced research in the field of agriculture and small-scale enterprises to help its rural areas break out of poverty.
He highlighted a range of "techno-managerial strategies" employed by the state government over the last eight years to bring Bihar on the path of self-reliance.
"Electricity, land reforms, employment, banking and health remain some of the key sectors of challenge but Bihar is ready to take them on. I am here to invite you all to participate in this with us," he said in reference to his first visit to London, which he described as a "clean and disciplined" city which he really liked.
