Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today assured that people from Bihar who live and work in Mumbai have no reason to fear as long as his government is there.
Addressing a gathering of Biharis at a packed Shanmukhanand auditorium here, Fadnavis said, "Mumbai is a mini-India....People rise here by dint of courage and hard work. I want to assure you all that till I am here, you need not to worry.
"You keep doing your job peacefully and keep flourishing," said Fadnavis, who was the chief guest at a function to celebrate 'Bihar Divas', organised by Bihar Foundation, a Bihar government's organisation.
Ancient Bihar had the world's first universities and examples of city planning, he noted.
"Due to some reasons Bihar may not have advanced so much yet, but you are essentially rich (in terms of culture and history)....and I not only hope but strongly believe that under the leadership of Modi-ji (Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi), the state will witness an unprecedented development in the coming five years," he said.
Sushil Kumar Modi, who is the chairman of Bihar Foundation, was also present.
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The Maharashtra government will form a committee which will work in association with Chhath Puja organisations in the city and ensure proper arrangements for Chhath Puja celebration along the Mumbai seashore, Fadnavis said.
Also, his government, in association with Bihar Foundation, will work to provide medical as well as accommodation facilities to cancer patients who come to the city for treatment, Fadnavis said.
Earlier, Sushil Kumar Modi appealed the Biharis who live here to embrace the local culture and language.
"We all are known for our hard-working and die-hard spirit. Wherever we go, we mix easily... However, I would appeal you all to learn Marathi too, which will help you in growing your business," Modi said.
Electrification of rural areas of Bihar was at full speed and every village in Bihar has now electricity, he said. Modi said.
Outlining the work of the foundation, Abhay Kumar, a key functionary, said it serves the Biharis living outside Bihar through several initiatives.
The foundation was working with different agencies and the government to set up a 100-bed branch of the Tata Memorial Center (which specialises in cancer treatment) at Muzaffarpur in Bihar, he said.
"We have an ambitious plan to set up a grand Bihar Bhavan in Mumbai and seek support from Sushil Kumar Modi in this regard," Kumar added.