Special status does not make a state developed: Kerala Governor Nikhil Kumar

MADHUBANI: Congress leader and Kerala Governor Nikhil Kumar today made light of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's demand for special category status saying the privilege does not guarantee that a state becomes developed.

"Eleven states have this special status. Are they in the category of developed states?" Nikhil Kumar, who served as Congress Lok Sabha member from Aurangabad in Bihar, said while speaking on the birth anniversary of Veer Kunwar Singh.

"Development does not happen by coming in the category of special states," he said.

Nikhil Kumar, former police chief of Delhi is the son of ex-chief minister of Bihar Satyendra Narayan Singh and grandson of first Finance minister of the state after Independence Anugrah Narayan Singh.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his party JD(U) are making strong demand for special category status for Bihar. The CM has said that it would be a major poll issue of the state in 2014 elections.

The Kerala Governor said that cottage industries hold great prospect for Bihar.