Modi government gave Bihar raw deal: Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh

Congress criticizes Modi government for failing to grant Bihar special category status, address Kosi river flooding, and fulfill airport promises.

The Congress attacked the Modi government on April 16 over key issues of Bihar and asked why has the State not been granted special category status as promised. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his poll rallies in Bihar.

"Today's questions for PM Modi as he heads to Bihar: Why hasn't Bihar been granted Special Category Status as the PM had promised?" Mr. Ramesh said on X. When will the Modi government address the flooding of the Kosi river and what happened to the airports that the PM promised, he asked.

"Jumla details below: After 10 years in power at the Centre, and 15 years in power in Bihar, why has the Modi Sarkar failed to deliver Special Category Status in the State? As per the Centre's own Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Report, Bihar ranked as the poorest State in India, and 52% of the State's population lacks access to requisite health, education and living standards," Mr. Ramesh said.

“In 2013, the Raghuram Rajan Committee recommended a new methodology for devolving funds that is based on a multi-dimensional index instead of SCS to account for a State’s economic backwardness,” he pointed out.

"In 2014, when campaigning for his current position, Mr. Modi effectively promised special State status for Bihar. Ten years later, what is the Modi Sarkar waiting for? Why has the PM forgotten the people of Bihar?" he said.

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“Noting that every monsoon, the Kosi river floods its banks, completely devastating the surrounding area,” Mr. Ramesh said millions of people are affected by the Kosi flooding — standing crops are regularly ruined and families are displaced for months on end.