Patna:
Just a few hours after the Raghuram Rajan panel report made a case for ending the 'special category' criteria for providing additional assistance to poorer states, as it ranked Goa and Kerala as the most advanced state and Odisha and Bihar the least, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar welcomed the panel on special status for Bihar.
Here are the highlights of what he said:- Welcome what Chidambaram said, Raghuram Rajan Committee
- Bihar should get 'special category' status
- Signature campaign... Inter-ministerial group formed... Raghuram Rajan filed report today
- The least developed states should be provided more help
- Special category states need Centre's help
- Since the report is in public domain, it is our win
- We were made fun of
- Report is complex
- It basically means, leas developed states like Bihar will get more help
- This had been our demand
- Happy that even though we were made fun, time has proved our pain and need for help
- This is not a simple thing
- We asked not just for ourselves but also others
- Fight began from Bihar but other states have also benefitted
- It had drawn a lot of pessimistic response
- But we are fighting at every step
- Bihar will receive more help for growth
- Composite development index
- A new door has opened
- Result of a struggle
- Congratulate the people of Bihar
- Not going to sit idle
- Will continue to be involved at each every step of this process