Nitish Kumar demands special status

PATNA: Demanding special category status for Bihar to fast track its economic development, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today pinned hope on the high-level sub-committee formed by Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram which will meet on August 10 next to finalise the new criteria for backwardness of the states.

The term of high-level sub-committee formed by the Centre to finalise the new criteria for backwardness of the state ends on August 15 and its next meeting is slated for August 10 to discuss technical issues related to its mandate, Kumar told reporters on his return from New Delhi.

"Although we are awaiting the report and pinning our hopes on it, we would like the Centre to accord us special status to boost economic development," he said.

Chidambaram during his visit to Bihar three months ago had spoken favourably about it qualifying for special status under the new criteria to be decided by the high-level sub-committee in the context of development deficit of the state, he added.