Nitish said that Bihar will not get anything in the Union Budget.
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has once again alleged that the central government is copying him. Describing ‘Saptarishi’ in the budget as a copy of his seven determination scheme, he said that on the lines of the Bihar government, seven priorities have been shown, but no provision has been made for the amount. After the busyness of the Samadhan Yatra, the Chief Minister read the budget in the evening, then reacted. The Chief Minister had earlier also accused Bihar of copying the Nal-Jal scheme and refused to bring the central scheme to Bihar. Reacting to the Union Budget on Wednesday night, the Chief Minister called it disappointing. Said it lacks foresight. Budget priorities change every year. Plans are not being completed due to lack of focus and funds. Bihar has been disappointed with this budget and once again the demand for special status has been ignored.
Important advisories of Bihar were ignored
The Chief Minister said that under the inclusive development, the Bihar government had demanded a special package of Rs 20,000 crore for the state in the meeting of finance ministers on behalf of the Union Budget (2023-24). It was not even discussed. The financial condition of the states has been ignored. No relaxation has been given in the loan limit of the state government in the year 2023-24. Bihar government in its memorandum had urged to keep it up to 4.5 percent (4% and 0.5% conditionally), which would be beneficial in the development of backward states and new employment generation. No blueprint was shown in the budget regarding employment generation for the youth.
Meaningless budget for Bihar and Biharis
Referring specifically to the seven priorities of the Government of India, ‘Saptarishi’, the Chief Minister said that this scheme is a re-packaging of the already running central schemes. The Bihar government has been successfully implementing the schemes under the Seven Determinations since the year 2016 and the Center has promoted the same pattern as ‘Saptarishi’. The Chief Minister said that adequate budget provision has not been made for this. Earlier in the day, during Samadhan Yatra, he had said that he has always been watching the budget but this time could not see in the busyness of the yatra. After talking to his Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, he had said that nothing was said for Bihar. It is meaningless for Bihar and Biharis.
