Nitish calls Bihar shutdown for special status

Patna, Feb 21: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday called a shutdown in Bihar on March 1 to protest against the denial of special category status to his state.

"I appeal to all the people of Bihar to support the day-long bandh March 1 to protest against the injustice done to Bihar," he told the media here.

The Janata Dal-United leader accused the central government of deliberately denying the status to Bihar.

He wanted to know why Bihar was being discriminated if Seemandhara — the residual state of Andhra Pradesh — could get special category status within days of parliamentary turmoil over Telangana.

"It is a clear cut case of injustice to Bihar. It is very unfortunate."

He said the special status was a must to develop an economically backward state like Bihar.

Nitish Kumar said the process to grant the status appeared to have got derailed under the influence of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, which is determined to oust the Janata Dal-United.