BJP's Bihar allies JDU, LJP seek special status for state

New Delhi: As many as two ruling NDA constituents, Janata Dal (United) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), on Sunday criticised the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government's kanwar route directive, which has become a contentious issue just ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament.

BJP allies, however, shied away from raising this issue at the all-party meeting. Instead, they focused on issues specific to their states.

While Bihar allies JDU and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) demanded special category status for Bihar, Maharashtra partner NCP raised the plight of the state's onion farmers. Bihar allies said that their demand should be included in the Union budget. Representing NCP, Praful Patel said a mechanism was needed to provide relief to onion farmers.


JDU working president Sanjay Jha said after the meeting that he raised the issue of "special category status for Bihar". He added: "We have been raising this demand of special category status for Bihar and if there is any technical issue, then a special package should be given. Another issue which I raised was flood in Bihar, all because water comes from the Nepal side. The Centre should intervene. A high dam needs to be built." LJP-RV leader and Union minister Chirag Paswan echoed Jha's demand on special status for Bihar.

On UP's Kanwariya order, Jha said political parties should refrain from such orders and there should not be any division in the society based on caste and religion. Patel said these steps were taken for the first time in view of the kanwar yatra. "It needs to be amended. The Uttar Pradesh government needs to take it back," Patel said after the meeting.