Not a word on spl status to Bihar in union budget : Nitish

Law Kumar Mishra
Patna: Issue of special status to Bihar, a pet subject of CM Nitish Kumar again cropped up after presentation of union
budget on February 1. Nitish said, “I heard with rapt attention budget speech of Arun Jaitely for two hours and at the end was disappointed. There was not a word on special status.”
However, Bihar BJP president Nityanand Rai  complimented union finance minister Arun Jaitley for his “progressive” budget and described it budget for Gaon, Garib aur Kisan (for villages, poor and farmers). Rai said budget will result in economic growth in the rural sector also. He said allocation for the Champaran Satyagrah centenary celebrations was a welcome step and people of Bihar felt obliged to Jaitley. Rai also welcomed enhancement in allocation for Mahatma Gandhi National rural employment guarantee scheme. Former state BJP chief Nand Kishore Yadav said budget was a return gift to the people who faced hardship following Notebandhi on November 8 last year.
Two former railway ministers: Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar, who are presidents of RJD and JD(U) respectively, however, felt disappointed with the budget. Lalu said the Railway minister has become useless and the post should be
abolished. There is no provision for maintenance of railway bridges and security. “Rail chapuat ho gaya hai (railways have been destroyed), ” he said. Lalu said Prime Minister was behaving like US President Donald Trump. People
were expecting “Achche Din”(good days),but they are facing Bure din(Bad days).”
CM Nitish Kumar said he heard with rapt attention speech of finance minister, but at the end was disappointed. There was nothing for Bihar. During his election campaign for 2015 assembly elections, PM Narendra Modi had promised Rs 1.25 lakh central assistance to Bihar, but the state did not receive a single pie. Promised special status was also not granted, he regretted. The CM said cashless transactions are difficult as there are limited number of bank branches. In Bihar, out of 8,400 panchayats, 2,500 have no bank branch, he said.