New Delhi:
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today addressed a rally at Delhi's Ramlila grounds to demand special status for his state.
Highlights from his speech:
- I welcome all who have come for the Adhikar rally today.
- This is the first time that the people of Bihar are displaying their strength in Delhi to demand their rights.
- Bihar used to be the centre of education. What is the reason today then that the people of Bihar have to migrate to Delhi and other cities for jobs?
- Bihar made a big contribution to India's freedom movement.
- Bihar has had a glorious place in the country's history. But today the state is so backward in all development aspects.
- Bihar is way below the national average in all development indices, such as roads, power, railways, per capita income.
- Should the Centre not give special attention to Bihar. Don't the people of Bihar have the right to a better life, better development.
- We will be good Indians if we are good Biharis.
- We have of late begun taking strides in development. This is the time for the Centre to give us special status.
- The Centre says Bihar does not meet the parameters to get special status. I disagree.
- Bihar faces huge land pressure, massive floods and has a population of over 10 crore.
- We are a land-locked state and very backward. Across the world, such states get more financial help.
- The committee set up by the Prime Minister agrees on one hand that Bihar is backward, but says on the other hand that it does not meet the parameters for special status.
- I demand that these parameters be changed. Not just Bihar, all states that are backward should get special status.
- We are not beggars. Development is the right of the people of Bihar.
- The Finance Minister, in his Budget speech, has hinted that changes will be made in the parameters for giving states special status.
- I demand that the parameters should be changed at the earliest to give Bihar special status. Our fight is not only for Bihar, but for all backward states.
- The PM talks of inclusive development. That will happen only when all people as well as all regions benefit from development.
- The PM has praised the recent growth rate of Bihar. If we get special status, we will contribute more to the country's growth rate. And that day won't be far when India will beat China.
- I urge you all to continue this fight for development. Even places in Delhi where migrants from Bihar are staying are backward.
- People used to look down upon Biharis. Today they are all praise for us.
- Our scheme of giving bicycles to girls has ensured a big jump in school attendance rates. We need funds for such innovative schemes and for Green Revolution.
- Let the Centre be generous with disbursing funds, and it will see how development picks up in Bihar.
- The massive floods in Bihar in 2007 were declared as a national calamity, but Bihar did not get any funds. Other states get help, I don't object to that. But what about Bihar?
- Today's rally is just the beginning, there is a big battle ahead.
- Either give special status now, or after 2014 you will have to give us special status for sure. Only those will be allowed to rule Delhi who take care of backward areas.
- We will win this battle and become a model state for the world.