Bihar bonanza: PM Modi rolls out Rs 1.25 lakh crore

Political experts have termed the ‘fund sanctioning’ move as a part of  a well-planned strategy to build confidence among the people of the state that funds would speed up infrastructural development works.

While inaugurating several projects of national highways and skill development in Ara, the Prime Minister in a dramatic way declared a Rs 1.25 lakh crore package to change the “face and fate of Bihar.” 

He also announced that apart from this amount several projects worth Rs 40,000 crore were underway in Bihar and “so the total amount for the package goes up to Rs 1,65,000 crore”, which is one the of largest allocations in Bihar’s history.

Announcing the package, Modi said, “Today, I’ve come here to fulfil my promise which I’d made earlier to the people of Bihar. I’d promised to give a package of Rs. 50,000 crore but now I’ve to say Rs. 50,000 crore will not be enough for Bihar’s development.”

Taking a dig at the ruling Nitish Kumar government, Modi said, “The previous Vajpayee government had given Rs 10,000 crore package for the development of Bihar but the state government till 2013 could utilise only Rs 9,000 crore and Rs 1,000 crore remained unspent. Similarly, the UPA government at the Centre too had given Rs. 12,000 crore to the state government after a lot of persuasion by the Chief Minister but surprisingly, out of that only Rs 4,000 crore was spent till today”.

In response to Kumar’s displeasure over Modi’s remark over calling Bihar a <g data-gr-id="31">Bimaru</g> state, the PM said, “Though I welcome he (Kumar) expressed displeasure over calling Bihar a <g data-gr-id="32">Bimaru</g> state but if the state has come out of this bracket, why does he always beg for the <g data-gr-id="33">spacial</g> package?” asked Modi.

Responding to the PM Modi’s barbs, Kumar said that he was ready to plead at anyone’s doors repeatedly for the welfare of the state and its people. Kumar stressed that the financial assistance was the state’s right.