The Hindu : National : Nitish seeks cooperation from Lalu, Paswan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 11, 2006

National

National

Nitish seeks cooperation from Lalu, Paswan

Demands reopening of fertilizer factory at Barauni in Begusarai district of Bihar

CAMARADERIE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan at the latter's residence in New Delhi on Tuesday. — Photo: V. Sudershan

New Delhi: Keen on accelerating Bihar's development, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday sought cooperation from political rivals Ram Vilas Paswan and Lalu Prasad.

Fresh from the Hyderabad meet where he wooed foreign investors, Mr. Kumar met Mr. Paswan, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, to demand the reopening of the Barauni fertilizer factory in Begusarai district. He also discussed the availability of fertilizer in Bihar.

Observing that Bihar's progress was not possible without the Centre's assistance, he said he had urged Mr. Paswan to use his good offices to speed up the State's development. "Paswan has a major role to play in this regard," he said and added that the Union Minister could also ensure that some pharmaceutical units came up in the State.

To a question, Mr. Kumar said he was appealing to Mr. Lalu Prasad to use his influence in all developmental matters.

Ordnance factory

Reacting to reports that the ordnance factory project at Nalanda was being shelved, he said: "If it is true, then it is a big injustice to Bihar as out of 40 such factories sanctioned across the country Bihar was given only one. [An amount of] Rs. 300 crore has already been spent on civil works. Shelving the project at this stage will amount to great injustice."

If South African firm Denel, with which the proposed unit was to have a tie-up, was embroiled in controversy, it was for the Government to arrange the technology from somewhere else rather than shelving the project. "There should be no discrimination against Bihar," he said.

Bihar's tableau

On the Defence Ministry's rejection of Bihar's tableau depicting `Chhath' festival, Mr. Kumar said he had written to the Defence Minister. "I feel the rejection is improper."

— PTI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National