'Share Nitish Kumar's Pain, Bihar Suffered Because of Politics,' Says PM Modi

Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Bihar today. He took part in a function in Patna to launch a number of government schemes, where he shared the stage with political rival and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Both of them spoke at the event.

Here are the highlights of what Prime Minister Narendra Modi said:

• All of us are now are coming to the understanding that there is substitute for development.
• If we have to overcome unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, development is the only way.
• Development is the medicine for all ills.
• If the nation has to grow, then the states must grow.
• I agree with the good points that Nitishji has made, and I share his pain. Bihar has suffered because of politics.
• The Chief Minister has subtly outlined how politics can get in the way of development.
• When Atalji was PM and Nitishji was Railway Minister, this project was started.
• If Atalji had been elected back, this project would have been finished much sooner.
• But the government changed and whoever came afterwards slowed the project down. We had to come back to finish it.
• The time is done to sit in Delhi and formulate plans.
• The time has come to formulate plans by listening to the needs of the states.
• This is the land of the Goddess Saraswati.
• This is the land of the wise, and the kind of wise people who live here can bring wisdom to the entire country.
• Infrastructure is very important.
• In Bihar, whether it is roads, rail or air, Bihar should get more of them.
• Bihar has given a large number of Railway Ministers to India.
• I take my next steps in thought of how railways can be used to improve the coverage of infrastructure, how railways can be used to better connect the country.
• Like we have a need for stronger rail network, and a power grid, we also have need for a gas grid.
• We already have the River Ganga. We will now bring an 'Energy Ganga' (Urja Ganga) to Bihar.
• Our aim to bring gas to each home.
• It is an expensive proposition. But once we do it, it will greatly aid quality of life, local economy and infrastructure.
• We have always endeavoured towards cooperative federalism.
• We are in favour of giving the states as much help as we can.
• So, states have benefited from the 14th Finance Commission.
• There used to be time when 60 per cent of all the funds received by the Centre used to stay in the treasuries in Delhi.
• But we took an important and difficult decision, that of the 14th Finance Commission.
• Because of this, Bihar, over a five year period, will receive 3.75 lakh crore rupees.
• Before, it used to receive only about 2.5 lakh crore.
• Unless all parts of the country develop, the country cannot progress.
• This is true of all the states in the eastern parts of the coutry, whether it is Bihar or eastern UP, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, Nagaland or Mizoram.
• When I had come to Bihar before the election, I had addressed a rally at Patna's Gandhi Maidan, in the midst of bomb blasts, I promised you something.
• I promised that if we came to power, we would provide a special package for Bihar.
• I will not announce it now. I will come at the right time and do it. We will give Bihar more than what we promised.
• Nothing should be allowed to get in the way of Bihar's development.
• I thank the Chief Minister for the welcome he has given me here.

Here are the highlights of what Nitish Kumar said:

• I welcome the Honourable Prime Minister on his first visit to Bihar in this capacity.
• The state government has cooperated and provided land when the Centre expressed interest in setting up an IIT in Bihar.
• I have a request of the Prime Minister. Of the 500 acres spread for IIT-Patna, a lot of people will be educated.
• But I also ask that other branches of study such as Agricultural Engineering, aerospae, architectural and regional planning are also introduced.
• I also request the Prime Minister that pure sciences also be taught here.
• As Railways Minister, I had the opportunity to visit Gujarat many times, and take part in programmes with the Honourable Prime Minister, who was the Chief Minister of Gujarat at the time.
• We also request that the railway line that PM has inaugurated be extended on both ends, as it is a line with a very high rate f return.
• Prime Minister, I appreciate the fact that you talk with officials through video conferencing, to monitor the progress of various schemes being implemented by the Central government.
• I also request you to do the same with the portion of Central programmes that are being implemented by the state government. That will help ensure their proper implementation.