Bihar MPs to prepare 'vision document'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 25. Keeping aside their political differences, MPs from Bihar have joined hands to plan for the development and economic uplift of the State after the Jharkhand area is carved out as a new State.

Fortyseven of the 56 MPs from the rest of Bihar, attended a dinner meeting hosted by the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar, and decided to form a ``Core Group'' that will prepare a `vision document' and outline the thrust areas.

Briefing presspersons, Mr. Kumar said despite sharp political differences, MPs from all political parties who represent the State in Parliament got together and pledged to work for the development of Bihar. ``We may have political differences but for the first time all spoke in a common voice for Bihar,'' he said.

The Bihar economy is sustained at present by the funds that are generated from mineral-rich areas of Jharkhand and the State politicians have realised that in the absence of industry and infrastructure, the State would face serious problems.

Mr. Kumar said the Core Group will meet regularly to finalise the document and prepare reports for major projects in industry, road, transport, railways, agriculture and infrastructure development.

He said all parties have decided to take up the challenge in a new situation Bihar will face after the formation of a separate Jharkhand State.

The MPs, he said, unanimously welcomed the recommendations of the Eleventh Finance Commission which has earmarked more funds for backward States.

The meeting was attended by, among others, the Union Ministers, Mr. George Fernandes (Samata), Mr. Kumar, Mr. Sharad Yadav (JD- U), Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan, Mr. Digvijay Singh and Mr. Shahnawaz Hussain, RJD Leader, Mr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Mr. Rajo Singh and Mrs. Shyama Sinha (Congress-I) and Mr. Gaya Singh (CPI).

Asked about the party stand on the Chief Ministership of the new State, Mr. Kumar said the leaders of the National Democratic Alliance would have to sit and sort it out.

He refused to either confirm or deny the contention of the Jharkhand Mukti Morhca leader, Mr. Shibu Soren, that the NDA had offered to reciprocate when the JMM extended support to Mr. Kumar as the Chief Minister of Bihar earlier this year.

Meanwhile, a delegation of JMM MLAs from Bihar have arrived here to drum up support for Mr. Soren as their Chief

Minister.

The MLAs, led by Mr. Stephen Marandi, said the group would not accept any one other than Mr. Soren as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. They also called on the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, and plan to meet other NDA leaders during the next few days.

NDA to select leader

NEW DELHI, AUG. 25. The Samata Party leader, Mr. Nitish Kumar, today said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will soon meet to select the leader for the newly-formed Jharkhand State.

``We will soon meet to decide whether a BJP candidate or a candidate from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) will head the newly-formed State. But the candidate would be selected with the approval of both sides,'' Mr. Kumar told presspersons here.

- PTI

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