Mahagathbandhan “discouraged” after special package announced by Centre: Bihar JDU leader Vijay Kumar Choudhary

Bihar Janata Dal-United (JDU) leader Vijay Kumar Choudhary alleged that the Mahagathbandhan had no interest in the parliamentary affairs of the state after the opposition staged a walkout from the assembly on Thursday evening.
The parliamentary affairs minister said that the opposition had become frustrated after the Centre announced a special package for Bihar in the Union Budget 2024.
Choudhary said, “The opposition has no interest in Parliamentary affairs. Today there was important subjects such as finances and legislative work. The most important constitutional responsibility of the House is to sanction budget, pass legislation. Today, when the financial bill was tabled, they (the opposition) showed no interest in discussing it. It seems that the opposition is completely discouraged after the special package announced by the central government.”
He further said that the allegations that the ruling alliance did not allow the opposition to speak were completely baseless.
“The state government and the speaker want the opposition to state its suggestions but they are not interested,” he added.
Notably, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made major announcements for Bihar, including a boost in infrastructure and special financial support.
In her Budget speech in Parliament on Tuesday, Sitharaman said, “On the Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor we will support the development of an industrial nod at Gaya in Bihar. We will also support the construction of road connectivity projects namely Patna-Purnia Expressway, Buxar-Bagalpur Expressway, Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Vaishali-Darbanga and an additional two-lane bridge over river Ganga at Buxar at a total cost of Rs 26,000 cr.”
“Power projects, including setting up of a new 2400 megawatt power plant at Pirpainti (in Bhagalpur) will be taken up at a cost of Rs 21400 crore,” she added.
The Finance Minister said that new airports, medical colleges and sports infrastructure in Bihar will be constructed. An additional allocation to support capital investments will be provided, she said.
She emphasised that the requests of the Bihar government for external assistance from multi-lateral development banks will be expedited. The FM also announce an allocation of Rs 11500 crore or flood control measures in Bihar. Funds have also been provided for developing the Temple corridors in the iconic temples in NIhar. The Kashi Model will be implemented in Bodh Gaya. Special funds have also been provided for the Rajgir Jain Temple site.
Earlier claiming that the BJP-led Centre has “deceived the people of Bihar” by not giving Special Status to the state, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday blasted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for “not uttering even a word” over the issue. The former deputy CM said that the RJD knew beforehand that the BJP-led NDA government would not give the Special Status to Bihar.
“We knew beforehand that BJP-NDA will not give Special Status to Bihar and that JD(U) too is doing drama. With just a small amendment, other poor states like Bihar can be given Special Status. Big amendments have been made earlier too. It is our long-standing demand…NDA has deceived the people of Bihar. CM used to say that he would agitate and hit the streets. Now, the CM is not uttering even a word over Special Status to Bihar,” Yadav told ANI.
Notably, the Centre has recently rejected JD(U)’s request for ‘special category’ status for Bihar.
He further attacked the Bihar Chief Minister, claiming, “It is true corruption has risen a lot under Nitish Kumar’s governance…If probed fairly, Nitish Kumar too would bear the brunt of it.” (ANI)

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