‘We either wanted special status or help’: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar thanks Centre for budget 2024 boost
Through the Union Budget 2024, the central government on Tuesday extended ‘special help’ to key NDA ally states of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, evoking appreciation from the Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu governments respectively.
Finance Minister Sitharaman announced several financial aids and developmental projects for both the states. Both JD(U) and TDP emerged as the kingmakers during the Lok Sabha elections and their membership is critical for the stability of the ruling National Democratic Alliance.
Regarding the allocation of funds to Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, “We said, either give us special status (for Bihar) or give us special rights and help with Bihar’s needs. So much work has been done in the state including the construction of roads, schools and other development projects. Now they have announced help in several areas of Bihar. Everyone will benefit from the Centre supporting the state.”
VIDEO | Budget 2024: “We said, either give us special status (for Bihar) or give us special rights and help with Bihar’s needs. So much work has been done in the state including construction of roads, schools and other development projects. Now they have announced help in several… pic.twitter.com/hFCaXWBrd1
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 23, 2024
The Janata Dal (United) chief thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for making special provisions for Bihar in the budget. “These announcements made for Bihar in the budget will help develop the state. It is hoped that in the future too the Central Government will help in the development of Bihar in the same way,” Kumar said in a post on X.
आज केन्द्र सरकार द्वारा प्रस्तुत किया गया बजट सकारात्मक एवं स्वागत योग्य है। इस बजट में बिहार की जरूरतों का विशेष ध्यान रखा गया है। इसके तहत बिहार के मानव संसाधन विकास एवं बुनियादी विकास पर विशेष ध्यान दिया गया है। इस बजट में बिहार की सड़क सम्पर्क परियोजनाओं, विद्युत परियोजनाओं,…
— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) July 23, 2024
How is the budget a gift for Bihar?
The budget unveiled a total outlay of over Rs 60,000 crore for various projects, including funding for three expressways, a power plant, heritage corridors and new airports and sports infrastructure.
Sitharaman announced the Centre’s support for the development of three road connectivity projects – Patna-Purnea Expressway, Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressway, and Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Vaishali and Darbhanga spurs, and an additional two-lane bridge over river Ganga at Buxar.
These four projects will have “a total cost of Rs 26,000 crore,” Sitharaman said.
Bihar will also get new medical colleges and a new power plant at Pirpainti, in Bhagalpur district, which “will be taken up at a cost of Rs 21,400 crore”.
The state, which is often hit by floods, will also get the centre’s support in terms of relief. “Our government, through the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme and other sources, will provide financial support for projects with an estimated cost of Rs 11,500 crore such as the Kosi-Mechi intra-state link and 20 other ongoing and new schemes including barrages, river pollution abatement and irrigation projects,” the finance minister said.
Apart from these, a corridor will be created for the development of the Vishnupad temple at Gaya and the Mahabodhi temple at Bodh Gaya. These corridors will be based on the Varanasi-based Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor.
Oppn calls foul, says budget ‘appeasement’
Meanwhile, the budget has invited criticism from the Opposition which is not welcoming of the special provisions for the two states.
Describing the budget as “Kursi Bachao Budget”, Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said, “Appease Allies: Hollow promises to them at the cost of other states. Appease Cronies: Benefits to AA with no relief for the common Indian. Copy and Paste: Congress manifesto and previous budgets.”
“Kursi Bachao” Budget.
– Appease Allies: Hollow promises to them at the cost of other states.
– Appease Cronies: Benefits to AA with no relief for the common Indian.
– Copy and Paste: Congress manifesto and previous budgets.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 23, 2024
“With no mention of Bengal’s development, the Bangla-Birodhis have shown their true nature. The budget has only served the purpose of pleasing BJP’s masters who are running the NDA Govt. from behind,” Trinamool Congress’ Abhishek Banerjee said.
Despite Kumar looking at the brighter side of the budget for Bihar, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav said, “Today’s budget has again disappointed the people of Bihar. A revival plan was needed to take Bihar on the path of progress and for which a special package along with the status of a special state is urgently needed.”
He added, “Those who call routine allocation and previously approved, determined and allocated schemes as new gifts should not insult Bihar. To stop migration, remove backwardness of the state and for a better future of youth along with industries, we will not step back even an inch from our demand for special state status.”
With inputs from agencies
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