Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responded to questions about giving special status to Bihar during a press conference in Patna. Answering a question, she said, "If we need to grant it, a decision will be made eventually." She added that the central government envisions Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha as engines of growth for India, working towards making the country a developed nation by 2047.
When Nirmala Sitharaman was asked about the provision for special status, she mentioned, "It needs to be mentioned in the Finance Commission's recommendation." She emphasized during her press conference, "Accelerated development of the eastern states has always been a top priority for the NDA-led central government."
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Income Per Capita in Bihar Plummeted During 'Jungle Raj’!
Addressing the press conference in Patna, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman remarked, "Before 2005, due to 'Jungle Raj,' Bihar's development was adversely affected. In 1991, Bihar's per capita GDP was 21,282 INR, higher than that of Odisha. However, during the 'Jungle Raj,' it fell to 14,209 INR, a drop of approximately 33%."
The Finance Minister added, "Since 2002, Bihar’s per capita growth stabilized at an average rate of 5%, reaching 37,000 INR in 2019. She further noted, "Absence of misgovernance during Jungle Raj could have seen it rise to 95,330 INR."
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What Did the Finance Minister Say About Reservations?
The Finance Minister claimed, "They say they will provide full reservation for minorities. However, our laws do not permit religion-based reservations." She said, "This implies that by planning for religion-based reservations, INDIA alliance is attempting to take away from SC, ST, and OBC categories."
