Nitish Kumar Committed To Bihar, Says PM Narendra Modi In Patna: 10 Points

Nitish Kumar and PM Narendra Modi at the Bihar Museum.

Highlights

PM Modi, Nitish Kumar attended Patna University's 100-year celebrations
They met in Bihar for the first time since JD(U)'s return to NDA
PM Modi praised Bihar Chief Minister for commendable work in the state

Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Bihar today, praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his commitment towards the state's progress. PM Modi was speaking during the centenary celebrations of Patna University. The two leaders shared the stage in Bihar for the first time since Janata Dal (United)'s exit from the Mahagathbandhan and return to the NDA fold. A visit to the newly opened Bihar Museum was also part of PM Modi's itinerary after which they flew to Mokama to launch several projects worth thousands of crores.

Here are 10 points from PM Modi's itinerary:

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Patna airport for his day-long visit to the state, Mr Kumar welcomed him with a red rose. When PM Modi expressed his desire to visit the newly opened Bihar Museum, Mr Kumar said, "why not" and took him for a dekko.
In Mokama, about 96 km from Patna, PM Modi launched about half-a-dozen schemes worth 5,000 crores including a bridge across the Ganga under the Namami Gange Programme which will cost about 1,200 crores. He also laid the foundation stone for national highway projects.
Patna University, the country's seventh oldest university, on the banks of the river Ganga, completed 100 years on October 1. While speaking at its centenary celebrations, PM Modi said that Patna has contributed to knowledge and the civil services for many years and it should now move towards wealth creation and innovation.
"The seed of education was sowed in Patna a century ago... Today, at least one in the top five posts in India is an alumni of this grand institution," he added.
Nitish Kumar urged the PM to declare Patna University as a Central university. However, PM Modi announced his plan to improve higher education in the country. He said that top 10 private and top 10 public universities will be given Rs 10,000 crore in the next five years. "All the universities of the country can compete for this," he said.
The university's famous alumni and BJP leaders-turned-critics Shatrughan Sinha and Yashwant Sinha, however, didn't attend the event. Lawmaker from Bihar Shatrughan Sinha had told ndtv.com that he had not been invited to attend the celebrations.
The former actor, who is "very emotionally attached to my alma mater", said, "I'm pained over being denied invitation on such an occasion."
But today while welcoming PM Modi to "his Patna University", he tweeted, "...even I got an invitation, alas very late and with a very short notice...delayed by the 'more loyal than the King's people' involved in the affair. So, though 'Muhabbat Karne waale kam na honge...Teri mehfil mein lekin hum na honge'. However, my best wishes."
He had claimed that RJD president Lalu Yadav and Yashwant Sinha, too, weren't invited. Vice Chancellor Ras Bihari Prasad Singh blamed the delay in printing of invitation cards for the confusion. "They are very much on our guest list," he said.
"We are going to organise a mega event for the centenary on December 10 in which all former students of the university will be invited," he added.