Bihar no more a lawless state; attracting investors: Minister

KOPARGAON: India Inc's outlook towards Bihar is fast changing with many industrialists are keen to make the state as their investment destination, Bihar's Food and Civil Supplies Minister Shyam Rajak said today.

"Bihar is growing at 14.8 per cent and is at the vanguards of development. It's previous image of a lawless state is undergoing a sea change. The Nitish Kumar Government has put a leash on crime," he said after visiting Sai Baba shrine in Shirdi.

He accused the Centre of discriminating with the state by not releasing subsidies to 223 rice mills.

"The state government has set up a unique agricultural cabinet comprising 18 departments and will be spending Rs 9,000 crore from its annual budget for strengthening the same," Rajak said.

In the next five years, he said the state's food and grain storage will be to the tune of 18 million tonne and the government will spend Rs 722 crore with the assistance from NABARD to achieve the target, he said.

Responding to a question, the minister said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was not in the race for PM's job and would instead focus on overall development of the state.