When Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was presenting the budget, for some time it seemed as if the railway budget of yesteryear was being presented, not a general budget speech. Just like earlier the Railway Minister coming from Bihar used to announce trains for his area in the Railway Budget.
While making every announcement related to Bihar, the image of Nitish Kumar was emerging again and again. Just 24 hours ago, Nirmala Sitharaman’s junior minister Pankaj Choudhary had rejected Nitish Kumar’s years-old demand in one stroke. It was clearly said that Bihar will not get special status – and RJD leader Lalu Yadav in Bihar had asked for resignation from Nitish Kumar.
Nitish Kumar did not express any displeasure after the central government rejected his demand, but did give a double meaning statement. Nitish Kumar said, ‘Not now, you will know everything gradually.’
Now it has to be understood to whom and for whom has Nitish Kumar said this? Is Nitish Kumar trying to convince the people of Bihar and Lalu Yadav that they should remain patient, Bihar is going to get a lot now? Or is this message of Nitish Kumar for BJP leadership i.e. Modi-Shah?
Purnia MP Pappu Yadav has not asked for resignation like Lalu Yadav, but has definitely attacked Nitish Kumar. Pappu Yadav says, ‘Now they are talking about 4 crore jobs, but how many jobs have you given in 10 years? Nitish Kumar has been a kingmaker but he was not even given a special package… Give something to all the closed factories, give something to the airport… Don’t beg for a special package, a special state, step away from the cabinet.
What was found in the special budget package for Bihar
Bihar may not get special status, but what Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has given has been heart-warming. It should be accepted that whatever has been received cannot match the special status, but when it is not to be received then it is no less – there is still an opportunity for politics for Nitish Kumar.
1. The seventh budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman includes a proposal to give three expressways worth Rs 26 thousand crores, a 2400 MW power plant worth Rs 21 thousand crores, medical colleges and several airports to Bihar.
2. The three expressways that have been announced to be prepared for Bihar are – Patna-Purnia Expressway, Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressway and Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Vaishali-Darbhanga Expressway. Apart from this, a two-lane bridge will be constructed on the Ganga river in Buxar at a cost of Rs 26 thousand crore.
3. The Finance Minister has promised to promote industrial development in ‘Gaya’ of Bihar. Under the ‘Purvodaya’ scheme, the central government will also cooperate in the development of road connectivity projects, it is said.
4. A 2400 MW power plant will be built in Bihar on which Rs 21,400 crore will be spent. Besides, investments will be made in different areas of Bihar on the demand of the state government.
5. Vishnupad Corridor and Mahabodhi Corridor will be developed on the lines of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor, Vishnupad Temple of Gaya in Bihar and Mahabodhi Temple of Bodhgaya. Besides, Rajgir, the pilgrimage site for Hindu, Jain and Buddhist people, will also be developed as a world class destination. Nalanda will also be developed as a tourist center and Nalanda University will be revived in its glorious form.
What else is Bihar going to get gradually?
After whatever has been received for Bihar in the general budget, a question arises whether Nitish Kumar had made the same deal with BJP in return for supporting the Central Government?
And for this special package, Nitish Kumar was repeatedly holding the hands and feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi?
Nitish Kumar has given a small reaction to the central government’s refusal to give special status to Bihar. Nitish Kumar has said, ‘Not now, you will know everything gradually.’
During the 2015 Bihar Assembly elections, Nitish Kumar often used to repeat a couplet of Kabir, ‘Dheere re mana, dheere sab kuch hoy… Mali singhe hundred pots, season aaye phal hoy.’
Is Nitish Kumar again assuring the people of Bihar in the same way? Nitish Kumar had won the 2015 elections by defeating BJP along with Lalu Yadav – what is he trying to tell now?
Is Nitish Kumar trying to explain that even though he may not have got a special package, Bihar is going to get a lot from the Central Government. And now there will be an opportunity for another general budget before the Bihar Assembly elections. Assembly elections in Bihar are going to be held at the end of next year.
Nitish Kumar also knows one thing that in the current situation, Bihar is not going to get the status of a special state, hence some old method should be adopted to get what is wanted. Like it is said that if you want a pistol then you should apply for a gun license – has Nitish Kumar done the same?
Is it possible that Nitish Kumar is working on some other strategy, and after waiting patiently, that too will slowly come to the fore!