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Rabri, Congress seek Kalam`s help for `special package`
Patna, May 30: Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and Congress, her coalition partner in the government, today sought President A P J Abdul Kalam`s help in persuading the Centre to grant a `special financial package` to the state.
Patna, May 30: Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and Congress, her coalition partner in the government, today sought President A P J Abdul Kalam's help in persuading the Centre to grant a "special financial package" to the state.
At a meeting marking the diamond jubilee of Bihar Industries Association (BIA), Rabri Devi requested the President to impress upon the Centre the need for giving a special financial package to the state to cope with the
economic loss caused by its bifurcation.
Almost all major industries and vast mineral resources of the undivided state have gone to Jharkhand and a substantial financial package alone could help revive the state's economy, she said.
Earlier, a four-member Congress team led by its state president and Bihar minister Shakeel Ahmad met Kalam at Raj Bhawan and handed over a three-page memorandum seeking a package for Bihar's economic rehabilitation.
Bihar's economy was in a mess, particularly after carving out of resource-rich Jharkhand, the memorandum said and urged the President to ask the Union government write off Central loan to the state to the extent of 50 per cent and provide other assistance in rebuilding Bihar.
Because of its bifurcation, Bihar was deprived of a major portion of its revenue from mining royalty, sales tax, excise duty and earnings from forest products leaving the truncated state with a heavily depleted resource base, a party release said.
Bureau Report
Almost all major industries and vast mineral resources of the undivided state have gone to Jharkhand and a substantial financial package alone could help revive the state's economy, she said.
Earlier, a four-member Congress team led by its state president and Bihar minister Shakeel Ahmad met Kalam at Raj Bhawan and handed over a three-page memorandum seeking a package for Bihar's economic rehabilitation.
Bihar's economy was in a mess, particularly after carving out of resource-rich Jharkhand, the memorandum said and urged the President to ask the Union government write off Central loan to the state to the extent of 50 per cent and provide other assistance in rebuilding Bihar.
Because of its bifurcation, Bihar was deprived of a major portion of its revenue from mining royalty, sales tax, excise duty and earnings from forest products leaving the truncated state with a heavily depleted resource base, a party release said.
Bureau Report