LJP(RV) demands special industrial state status for Bihar

Patna: Ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Feb 1, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), a key ally of the BJP, has called for granting Bihar the status of special industrial state (SIS) until the state receives special category status. The demand for special category status has been raised by various political parties, as Bihar, lacking mineral resources after bifurcation, continues to face challenges in obtaining it.
At an all-party meeting held in Delhi ahead of the budget session on Thursday, LJP (RV) chief whip in the Lok Sabha, Arun Bharti, strongly advocated for granting Bihar SIS status to facilitate its industrialisation. "Under the provisions of NITI Aayog, Bihar is facing difficulties in obtaining special category status. Therefore, until the demand for special category status is fulfilled, Bihar should be granted special industrial status, as it remains a backward state and lags behind on many development indicators," Bharti, who represents Jamui in the Lok Sabha, said. He emphasised that granting SIS status would attract industrial investment, create local employment, and boost the state economy.
The LJP (RV) also urged the continuation of the special package for Bihar, as announced in the previous Budget, for the state's overall development. The party stressed that the package would aid in infrastructure development, education, healthcare, and employment generation, thus strengthening Bihar's economy.
Further, the LJP (RV) called for timely filling of vacant posts under the non-fulfilled category (NFC) reservation in government jobs, so that the youth from the reserved categories can access their rightful employment opportunities. "It is necessary to fulfil these demands for the development and social justice of Bihar," Bharti said.