Centre Rejects Bihar’s ‘Special Status’ Demand; Will BJD’s Request For Odisha Be Considered?

New Delhi: Nitish Kumar-helmed Janata Dal (U), a key ally of the NDA government at the Centre, was dealt a big blow on Monday as its demand for special status to Bihar was refused.

The Narendra Modi-led Union government said that special status can’t be granted to Bihar as per the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) report 2012.

“The Special Category Status for plan assistance was granted in the past by the National Development Council (NDC) to some States that were characterised by a number of features necessitating special consideration. These features included (i) hilly and difficult terrain, (ii) low population density and/or sizeable share of tribal population, (iii) strategic location along borders with neighbouring countries, (iv) economic and infrastructural backwardness and (v) non-viable nature of State finances,” Union minister of state for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written reply to Jhanjharpur Lok Sabha MP Ramprit Mandal.

“The decision was taken based on an integrated consideration of all the factors listed above and the peculiar situation of the State. Earlier, the request of Bihar for Special Category Status was considered by an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) which submitted its Report on 30th March 2012. The IMG came to the finding that based on existing NDC criteria, the case for Special Category Status for Bihar is not made out,” the minister added.

The JD(U) reiterated its long-standing demand during Sunday’s all-party meeting ahead of the Parliament session.

It remains to be seen if the Central government considers similar demands from other states, including Odisha, favourably.

Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which was unseated by BJP in the recent Assembly elections, also reiterated its demand for special category status to Odisha at Sunday’s meeting chaired by Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh.