Will not hesitate to knock PM doors for Bihar: Nitish Kumar

BHAGALPUR: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said political rivalry with BJP notwithstanding he would not hesitate to knock doors of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the interest of the state.

"In the interest of Bihar I will go to anybody and even knock the doors of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Kumar said addressing a public function at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur district.

Kumar's rivalry with PM Modi is an open secret. He had driven JD(U) to severe ties with BJP in June 2013 ending 17 year old alliance.

Kumar becoming CM again saw lowering of hostility towards PM. He thanked PM for congratulating him for becoming Bihar CM and even wrote a letter to him to seek special assistance in the wake of "loss" accruing from recommendation of 14th Finance Commission.

Bihar CM appealed to BJP in the state to join hands with him in demanding special assistance to the state to compensate "loss" due to recommendations of 14th Finance Commission which though has increased state shares in Central taxes by 10 per cent to 42 per cent but has ended other benefits like Central grant and fund like BRGF (Backward Region Grant Fund) under state reorganisation Act that guided creation of Jharkhand.

Kumar said his demand for special category status for Bihar stands as it would spur economic growth in the state by providing incentive for installation of industries.

He talked in detail about per centage slide in share of state in Central taxes from 10.9 earlier to 9.6 in 2015-16 fiscal as per recommendations of 14th Finance Commission and reiterated that he would soon call an all party meeting to take up the issue with the Centre.

Kumar once again tendered apology to people for mistake by quitting CM post in the wake of debacle in general election.

The Bihar CM launched the construction work of a bridge on river Ganga from Aguwani to Sultanganj at an estimated cost of Rs 1710.77 crore and also several other road construction projects in Bhagalpur district.