Bihar Chief Minister and Janta Dal –United (JD-U) senior leader Nitish Kumar asked people of the state for such mandate in 2014 that no government can be formed at New Delhi without his party's support. Incidentally, his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi was also in town, when Kumar was making this statement.
"We have raised our demand of special category status for Bihar several times," said Kumar, while addressing a jam packed rally here at Gandhi Maidan, "but it has been denied by central government so far. I appeal you to be united in our fight. Today, we must resolve, so that no government can be formed at New Delhi, without our support. Then we will support that government, which accords us with the special status." He also announced his plans to hold another such massive rally at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi in March. He said dates will be finalised soon and asked people to march to Delhi for a final battle.
Incidentally, his Gujarat Counterpart Narendra Modi was also in Patna at the same time. Modi was in town to pay homage to ex-Governor of Gujarat and Senior BJP Leader, Kailashpati Mishra, who passed away yesterday. Modi came to Patna on Sunday morning and fly out in the afternoon.
Kumar also told about the development took place under his rule. He said, "We are progressing with a double digit growth rate. Healthcare, education, infrastructure and law and order, everything has improved under this government. Today public money is being used in a better way, not to fund scams. But still we lag behind. We have to sustain this rate of development for at least 25 years, just to reach the national average. We are not ready to wait this long. We want this status now." He also asked the central government to change the criteria for according special category status, so that all those states, which lag behind in national average on different human development indices, may get an opportunity to develop.
The rally itself was not less than a Bollywood masala blockbuster. It had loud dialogues, drama, action, songs and not to forget an over packed venue. Policemen and women had to work hard to control the over enthusiastic crowd, which has engulfed the historic Gandhi Maidan of Patna. They all wanted to get a glimpse of their leader Nitish Kumar. Famous Bhojpuri singer, Manoj Tiwari entertained the crowd with his songs. Later, strongman and JD-U MLA Anant Singh made a dramatic entry. He came with a sea of supporters from his constituency, Mokahma. He jumped over a barricade and began an informal press conference right in the middle of the venue. He stopped only when Kumar, himself, asked Singh to join him on the dais.
The speakers continuously castigated the Congress led UPA government. "Yachna Nahi, Aab Rann hoga", party MP from Begusarai, Monazir Hasan quoted a famous hindi poet, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar. Another party MP, Shivanand Tiwari said, "Bihari community is being targeted everywhere. We will not endure abuses now. The success of this rally will open the eyes of central government."
Nitish Kumar said, "This is first time after independence, when people from all religions, sections, age and gender came together on a demand, which is related to their future and destiny of Bihar. This is the first time, when people came together on a development issue."