BJP leader Tarkishore Prasad slams INDIA bloc's demand of "special status for Bihar", calls it a "political instrument"

Patna (Bihar) [India], July 23 (ANI): BJP MLA from Katihar, Tarkishore Prasad, has countered the INDIA bloc leaders' protests regarding the demand for special status for Bihar, emphasizing the extensive reforms announced in the Union Budget 2024-25 for the state.
Prasad pointed out several key investments and projects aimed at boosting Bihar's development which have been announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday.
"Three Expressways have been announced for Bihar. Rs 26000 crores have been allocated for infrastructure development. Many medical colleges have been announced. Many more important announcements will be made for the development of Bihar. All aspirations of the people of Bihar will be fulfilled in this budget," Prasad said.
As the INDIA bloc leaders staged a protest outside the Bihar Assembly on Tuesday asking a "special status for Bihar", Prasad said that the demand is just being used as a "political instrument" by the opposition leaders.
"The opposition leaders want to make special status as a political instrument. Bihar cannot progress this way. The budget that is going on today, many things have been announced for Bihar," Prasad said.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made major announcements for Bihar on Tuesday, including a boost in infrastructure and special financial support.

The announcement covers human resource development, infrastructure and the generation of economic opportunities to make the eastern region of the country covering Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra pradesh an engine to attain Viksit Bharat.

In her Budget speech in Parliament, Nirmala Sitharaman said, "On the Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor we will support the development of an industrial nod at Gaya in Bihar. We will also support the construction of road connectivity projects namely Patna-Purnia Expressway, Buxar-Bagalpur Expressway, Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Vaishali-Darbanga and an additional two-lane bridge over river Ganga at Buxar at a total cost of Rs 26,000 cr."

"Power projects, including setting up of a new 2400 megawatt power plant at Pirpainti, will be taken up at a cost of Rs 21400 crore," she added.

The Finance Minister said that new airports, medical colleges and sports infrastructure in Bihar will be constructed. An additional allocation to support capital investments will be provided, she said.

She emphasised that the requests of the Bihar government for external assistance from multi-lateral development banks will be expedited. The FM also announce an allocation of Rs 11500 crore for flood control measures in Bihar. Funds have also been provided for developing the Temple corridors in the iconic temples in Bihar.
The Kashi Model will be implemented in Bodh Gaya. Special funds have also been provided for the Rajgir Jain Temple site. (ANI)