JD(U) rally in Delhi on Mar 17 for special status for Bihar

Patna: The ruling JD(U) today decided to organise a massive rally in Delhi on March 17 to press for its demand for grant of special category status to Bihar by the Centre to spur growth.

The rally would be attended by a large number of people from Bihar and those from the state living in Delhi, Bihar JD(U) President Vashist Narayan Singh told reporters after a meeting of party MPs, MLAs and MLCs chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Singh welcomed Union Finance minister P Chidambaram`s recent statement in the Rajya Sabha supporting change in the criteria for special status for a backward state like Bihar and said "it indicates a positive approach by the Centre." The March 17 rally would be followed by another on November 4 at Patna. The JD(U) has been raising the issue of special status for Bihar on every platform. Recently, the Chief Minister wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stating that the state was land-locked and bereft of mines and minerals after Jharkhand was carved out in November 2000. Kumar had raised the issue at a recent meeting of National Development Council (NDC) too. PTI