ALL IS WELL: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi visiting the State BJP headquarters in Hyderabad on Sunday. State BJP chief N. Indrasena Reddy is also seen. -Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Sunday said the law and order and investment climate in Bihar improved vastly under the new dispensation and 125 proposals worth more than Rs. 11,000 crores were approved.

He told a press conference here that kidnappings, rapes and murders had declined drastically and there was not a single abduction case either of a doctor or a businessman in the last eight months in Patna. The confidence level among people was `very high' in contrast to the `fear psychosis', which prevailed earlier.

Reasons cited

He attributed the improvement to increased rate of convictions, lack of political patronage to criminals, non-interference in the functioning of police department and the recruitment of 5,000 retired army personnel. In fact, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee had written to the States to follow Bihar's example.

Claiming that the investment climate was `upbeat', he said eight sugar factories were approved and proposals for cement units, power plants, shopping malls and multiplexes were received. Priority was being accorded to agro-based industries.

He said that five commissions for BCs, common school system and ushering in land, agricultural and administrative reforms were constituted. An NRI cell was proposed and a global meet on Bihar would be held.

Joint strategy favoured

Replying to questions, he favoured a joint strategy by the Centre and the States to contain extremist activities. He said Bihar had sought Central funds for modernisation of weapons, adding, "No State Government alone can contain the menace of naxalism."

Mr. Modi said the Centre was not discriminating against Bihar in extending help. The UPA Government had agreed to extend by five years the special Rs. 1,000-crore annual package initiated by the previous regime.

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