Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, addressing a public meeting organized by the JD(U) on Constitution Day in Patna, has reiterated his demand for special category status for the state. Defending the call for special status, Kumar highlighted the financial strain faced by states, emphasizing that in addition to their own expenses, they bear a significant share of the cost of central schemes.
At the ‘Bhim Sansad’ event, commemorating Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, Kumar underscored his party’s commitment to the principles of socialist icon Ram Manohar Lohia and the inspiration drawn from figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Jayaprakash Narayan, and former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur. Without directly naming the current central government, he noted that those in power had played no role in the drafting of the Constitution.
The Chief Minister, the longest-serving in Bihar, outlined the measures taken under his leadership to uplift weaker sections of society. This includes a recent increase in reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and extremely backward classes, based on a comprehensive caste survey revealing the presence of 94 lakh poor families in the state.
Expressing the need for further poverty alleviation measures, Kumar announced his intention to launch a renewed campaign for special category status, a demand he has been advocating for nearly a decade. He urged the people of Bihar to support this campaign, challenging critics who argue that the central government provides sufficient assistance. Kumar argued that while the Centre claims credit for launching schemes, states are burdened with 40 percent of the expenses.
Having severed ties with the BJP last year, Kumar has emerged as a key leader of the INDIA coalition. He urged journalists present to support the cause for special status through their reporting and, acknowledging potential constraints, encouraged them to use social media outreach to amplify the campaign.
The Chief Minister concluded by expressing optimism about the future, stating that once the current regime at the Centre is replaced, journalists will be able to wield their pens freely in support of their conscience. Until then, he called on them to leverage their social media platforms to rally behind the demand for special category status for Bihar, emphasizing its potential benefits for all segments of society.
