Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar defended on Thursday his repeated demand for special status to the state saying it (the status) will boost private investment in a big way to accelerate its industrial development. "I am pushing for grant of special status to Bihar only to bring private investment in a big way to expedite industrialisation process for generation of employment opportunities," he said in a function at Pataliputra industrial area after inaugurating a diamond cutting unit, the first of its kind in the state.
The special status brings with it tax concessions and the investors pumping their money in industrial units in Bihar will benefit from the incentives if the Centre grants his demand, the chief minister said. Claiming that the law and order situation in the state has improved, he said the present was as good as it gets for investors, who should take advantage of the positive atmosphere and make investments in Bihar. "If any investor has doubt about the law and order situation in Bihar, then such an investor should confirm it with the director general of police before taking the decision," Kumar said.
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12:20 AM, May 17, 2013
Bhubaneswar: Terming as shocking and unfortunate Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram's reported statement favouring special category status to Bihar before report of a sub-committee, ruling BJD on Monday accused Congress of working against the interest of Odisha. "As far as I know (about) backwardness of Bihar, I am sure it will qualify to be a special category state by the sub-committee to be appointed under the chairmanship of Raghurama G...
02:25 AM, May 14, 2013
Patna: Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday said that Bihar will be accorded special category status after the change of criteria. "I hope that new criteria will determine status of backward states. Bihar will certainly qualify for special category status under new criteria for it," said Chidambaram. "The central government is reviewing the new criteria for special category status to backward states like Bihar," he told mediapersons in Patna,...
08:02 PM, May 11, 2013
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will tell the Supreme Court on Tuesday that changes were made in the status report on the coal block allocation scam after a meeting between the probe agency and Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, sources said. The probe agency is not going to hide anything from the apex court, according to CBI sources. The CBI had on Friday filed its affidavit on the...
10:56 AM, Apr 30, 2013
Patna: Making a strong pitch for special category status for Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday said it would be better if the privilege was given sooner or else people would themselves take a decision in this regard in the 2014 general elections. "Amendment in criteria for according special status itself symbolises half victory for Bihar," Kumar said addressing a rally at Purnea. The CM reiterated demand for special...
02:59 AM, Apr 28, 2013
New Delhi: A delegation of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee on Friday met Finance Minister P Chidambaram and demanded a financial package for the state on the lines of special allocation for Bihar and conferment of special category status. It also demanded setting up of a high-level fast track inquiry against the BJD government in the state to "expose massive mis-utilisation of public funds". The delegation led by PCC President Niranjan...
12:45 AM, Apr 27, 2013
Bhubaneswar: With the BJD intensifying its anti-Centre tirade accusing it of neglecting Odisha, opposition Congress on Monday said the ruling party was trying to "exploit" the sentiments of the people by making such allegations. "BJD is simply exploiting the sentiment of people by taking name of special category state status for Odisha and alleging Central negligence," Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik told reporters. Claiming that the BJD's...
03:00 AM, Apr 23, 2013
New Delhi: Bharti SoftBank's free mobile messaging app 'hike', which was launched globally in December 2012, has crossed 5 million subscribers. "The free mobile messaging app 'hike' from Bharti SoftBank (BSB), has crossed the 5 million active subscribers mark in just four months after its launch. This makes 'hike' one of the fastest growing free mobile apps globally," the company said in a statement. Bharti SoftBank (BSB) is a joint...
12:23 AM, Apr 22, 2013
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Saturday said its leaders would meet President, Prime Minister, Finance Minister and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to press for special category status for the state. "We will meet Prime Minister, Congress resident and others to press Odisha's demand of a special category state status," OPCC President Niranjan Patnaik told reporters after the ruling BJD called for a 12-hour bandh demanding special category status...
10:58 PM, Apr 20, 2013
New Delhi: A media report that showed the UPA government had "vetted" the coal scam probe status report before its submission in the Supreme Court was a "very serious matter", said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj on Saturday. Swaraj alleged that the vetting was part of an attempt to save Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "This is a very serious matter. This is evidence of the government's pressure on...
01:34 PM, Apr 13, 2013
Mumbai: The Facebook status composer is evolving. While you can already tell your Facebook friends "What's on your mind", the social networking giant is now letting its users in the USA tell their friends what they're doing, courtesy an update. The new status composer lets users tell their friends what they're watching, listening to, reading, eating, drinking or even how they're feeling. However, the posts will no longer be limited...
06:18 PM, Apr 11, 2013
Can the IPL season six sustain public interest over the next four to six weeks? CNN-IBN's sports editor Gaurav Kalra joined IBNLive readers for an interaction on the issue. Q. The advertising of IPL has been criticised by everyone.Too much glamour quotient,How is it helping cricket. Mandeep singh/Bisla who did well last yr are back without any progress. Asked by: googly A. Personally, I do not enjoy the coverage of...
05:58 PM, Apr 05, 2013
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Assembly on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution requesting the Centre to award special category status to the state and provide additional central grants and fiscal incentives for its development. A motion in this regard, moved by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, was supported by all political parties, including the main opposition Congress. The resolution was passed in the House after seven-hour long discussion on the subject. This was for...
11:14 PM, Apr 04, 2013
After Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik stepped up the demand for special category status for the state on Monday saying it was a 'genuine right'. "No one can ignore Odisha's demand. It deserves special category status. It is a genuine right," Patnaik said addressing the state-level celebration of its 77th foundation day. ...
02:25 AM, Apr 02, 2013
New Delhi: Underlining the importance of normalisation of trade with India, Pakistan on Thursday said more decisions will be taken in "coming weeks and months" to improve trade ties but did not say when it will grant the much delayed Most Favoured National (MFN) status. "We are in a way satisfied (about trade with India). Economic, trade cooperation track has seen a lot of meetings between the two sides which...
05:59 PM, Mar 28, 2013
New Delhi: Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has once again raised the pitch for a third front. Speaking at a rally in Etawah on Wednesday, Mulayam said that neither the BJP, nor the Congress can form a government in 2014. He further said that Congress can't be trusted and the chances of a Third Front government are very high. This is the second time in three days that the...
05:33 PM, Mar 27, 2013
Patna: The Holi this year has brought added joy to the people of Bihar amid heightening excitement and anticipation that the state could be granted special status, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Wednesday. Celebrating Holi at his official residence, Kumar could not hide his joy with the Centre reportedly considering to grant 'backward' status to the state and said: "this Holi appears to be special." "A buzz is doing...
05:20 PM, Mar 27, 2013
New Delhi: The crisis within the UPA seems to be taking new turns each day. With Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav threatening to withdraw support, the government is now looking for new allies. Its best option is JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who has been demanding special status for Bihar. Sources say the government is also willing to give Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief...
07:47 AM, Mar 26, 2013
New Delhi: Ditched by the DMK and kept guessing by SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Congress is looking further east, towards Bihar and West Bengal, to ensure that the UPA survives till the 2014 general elections. Sending crucial signals to possible ally Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the Centre is likely to review backward criteria for states which will meet the demands of Bihar, according to sources. Sources said a...
10:42 PM, Mar 25, 2013
Bihar Chief Minister and the Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar on Monday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Planning Commission Deputy Chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia to discuss granting of special status to Bihar. Nitish said the meeting with the Prime Minister has given him a hope that the issue would be taken up at a higher level. ...
06:22 PM, Mar 18, 2013
