Bihar Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary Criticizes Opposition for Walkout Over Special Package
Bihar Janata Dal-United (JDU) leader Vijay Kumar Choudhary has accused the opposition of showing no interest in the state’s parliamentary affairs. This came after the opposition walked out of the assembly following the Centre’s announcement of a special package for Bihar in the Union Budget 2024.
Choudhary’s Statement
Choudhary, who is the parliamentary affairs minister, said, “The opposition has no interest in Parliamentary affairs. Today there were important subjects such as finances and legislative work. The most important constitutional responsibility of the House is to sanction the budget and pass legislation. Today, when the financial bill was tabled, they (the opposition) showed no interest in discussing it. It seems that the opposition is completely discouraged after the special package announced by the central government.”
He also dismissed allegations that the ruling alliance did not allow the opposition to speak, calling them baseless. “The state government and the speaker want the opposition to state its suggestions but they are not interested,” he added.
Union Budget Announcements
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made significant announcements for Bihar, including infrastructure boosts and special financial support. She mentioned the development of an industrial node at Gaya, several expressways, a new power plant, and new airports, medical colleges, and sports infrastructure. An additional allocation for capital investments and flood control measures was also announced.
Tejashwi Yadav’s Criticism
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav criticized the BJP-led Centre for not granting Special Status to Bihar and accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of not addressing the issue. Yadav said, “We knew beforehand that BJP-NDA will not give Special Status to Bihar and that JD(U) too is doing drama. With just a small amendment, other poor states like Bihar can be given Special Status. Big amendments have been made earlier too. It is our long-standing demand…NDA has deceived the people of Bihar. CM used to say that he would agitate and hit the streets. Now, the CM is not uttering even a word over Special Status to Bihar.”
Yadav also claimed that corruption has increased under Nitish Kumar’s governance and suggested that a fair probe would implicate the Chief Minister.
Doubts Revealed
Bihar -: Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage.
Minister -: A minister is a high-ranking government official who is in charge of a specific department or area, like education or health.
Vijay Kumar Choudhary -: Vijay Kumar Choudhary is a politician from Bihar who holds a significant position in the state government.
Opposition -: The opposition is a group of political parties or politicians who are not in power and often challenge the decisions of the ruling party.
Walkout -: A walkout is when members of a group leave a meeting or assembly as a form of protest.
Special Package -: A special package is a set of benefits or financial aid given by the government to help a particular region or sector.
Centre -: In India, the Centre refers to the central government, which is responsible for the entire country.
Union Finance Minister -: The Union Finance Minister is the person in charge of managing the country’s finances and budget at the central government level.
Nirmala Sitharaman -: Nirmala Sitharaman is the current Union Finance Minister of India, responsible for the country’s financial and economic policies.
Infrastructure -: Infrastructure includes basic facilities like roads, bridges, and schools that are necessary for a society to function.
Union Budget 2024 -: The Union Budget 2024 is the financial plan for the country for the year 2024, detailing how the government will spend its money.
RJD -: RJD stands for Rashtriya Janata Dal, a political party in India, mainly active in the state of Bihar.
Tejashwi Yadav -: Tejashwi Yadav is a politician from Bihar and a leader of the RJD party.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, a major political party in India that is currently leading the central government.
Special Status -: Special Status is a designation given to certain states in India, providing them with extra benefits and financial aid from the central government.
Chief Minister -: The Chief Minister is the head of the government in an Indian state, similar to a governor in other countries.
Nitish Kumar -: Nitish Kumar is the current Chief Minister of Bihar, responsible for the administration of the state.
