BJP, JD-U demand special status for Bihar

The government came under attack from both JD-U and BJP in Lok Sabha over delay in granting special status to Bihar, with JD-U members storming the Well.

New Delhi: The government on Thursday came under attack from both JD-U and BJP in Lok Sabha over delay in granting special status to Bihar, with JD-U members storming the Well.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Shahnawaz Hussain (BJP) said Bihar has been "cheated" by the UPA government and "great injustice" is being done by the Centre by delaying the decision to grant special status to the state. "There is no IIT in Bihar, no IIM, no National Law University and even the Nalanda University has not been developed fully," he said. He said a committee headed by Raghuram Rajan had recommended granting special status to Bihar but the Central government has not yet implemented the recommendation. Taking a dig at the government for not granting the special status, he said when Narendra Modi becomes Prime Minister, it would be done. This evoked sharp reaction from RJD member Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Congress member Sanjay Nirupam and others. "People of Bihar will not tolerate such injustice," Hussain said. Strongly supporting the demand for special status to Bihar, Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said it is a "just demand" of the 10 crore people of Bihar and there should not be any delay in taking such a decision. Yadav said 1.5 crore people have sent representation to the President supporting special status to Bihar and several rallies were held in Delhi to press for the demand. "The Finance Minister must tell us why the decision has been delayed," he said. Soon JD-U members stormed the Well shouting slogans. Shailendra Kumar (SP) raised the issue of backwardness of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh and sought special package for them. M Thambidurai (AIADMK) demanded India`s immediate intervention to stop Sri Lanka preventing Indian fishermen carrying out fishing activities near Katchatheevu island. He said the Centre must take urgent steps and get a resolution passed in Parliament so that India gets full rights over the island. Thambidurai alleged that Sri Lanka has been trying to exercise its rights over the island and not allowing Indian fishermen to go near it. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (RJD) wanted the government to intervene to remove the alleged discrimination by UPSC against aspirants taking the exam in regional languages.