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Perhaps very few people may remember that the first IIT got shifted to Kharagpur in West Bengal from the proposed location in Bihar because Dr. BC Roy wished so. Dr. Roy got it as he was nearer to Nehru than Shribabu of Bihar.
A news report reminded me of the above historical fact. The news is shocking for Bihar. Many in Bihar might have political animosity and differences with Lalu. However, Lalu as railway minister in last UPA government got two huge railway projects with investments of around Rs 30,000 crore— a diesel locomotive factory at Chhapra and an electric locomotive factory at Madhepura. It would have brought prosperity for the common people in the region. Siemens AG and US-based conglomerate General Electric Co. (GE) were expected to execute the two projects. If properly executed, the projects could have resulted in number of manufacturing clusters for various categories of components.
According to many reports in media, the new railway ministry, under a new head is considering to shift the projects to West Bengal. Mamata with eye on the next assembly election may do that without going for any rationale or ethics that are always the causalities in political decisions.
But should the projects be shifted with change in the government and ministers? Should not Man Mohan Singh or Sonia Gandhi stop Mamata from doing this injustice to the people of Bihar? And naturally, the next question is to be answered by the representatives and, if necessary the people of Bihar? Will they allow it to happen? Would not Nitish Kumar protest forcefully?
It is unfortunate that in last 62 years that have seen a large contingent of eminent persons from Bihar holding the charge of various ministries in central cabinet ministers, but hardly any, be it Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Jagjivan Ram or her daughter Meira, LN Misra, or even Nitish could bring in some projects of significance for the Bihar. Were they afraid of getting bad name for showing regional interest or too busy in their own selfish interests? Did they lack the missionary zeal or right knowledge to take the state ahead in competition? Did not the state and its people suffer for their ineffectiveness and inefficiencies?
And finally in an appeal to Lalu, I request him to have his street protests in Delhi or Kolkata to get the transfer of the projects stopped.
If not the politicians the people and student community of Bihar must take up this issue united and forcefully, and prove that they can launch some useful movements too.
comments...
It is true that politicians of Bihar did not fight vehemently for mega projects which could have far reaching implications. However there is another sad but agonising truth for deliberately neglectig Bihar. I would request all the viewers to circulate the following well documented facts about central neglect:
1. Economic Strangulation of BIhar:
http://cpasindia.org/reports/02-Economic-Strangulation-Bihar.pdf
2. The De-urbanization of Bihar:
http://cpasindia.org/reports/03-De-urbanisation-Bihar.pdf
3. The Children of Ganga and Politics of Allocation:
http://cpasindia.org/reports/05-Children-Ganga-Politics-Allocation.pdf
These research articles prove beyond doubt that out policy makers followed the same method as Britishers did for industrialisation of England by enslaving India and other countries. Poor people of Bihar... They think it is their fate. Castism prevailed in more ugly form in Tamilnadu, Hariyana and some other states but that didn't come into their way of development. The economic development in those states diluted the cast feeling. In Bihar there was no development and hence castism prevailed to fight for limited resources. In fact now all casts are more or less equally poor (or rich ??) Unfortunately we take symptom as cause of the disease. Let us pread these messages to poor people in villages so that they do not fight with each other but unite to get their due from centre.
A. Singh
anugrah_singh@yahoo.com
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There is a saying, if you are determined for something and your intention is correct, surrounding ambiance will help you to achieve it. This is the time to show unity for all political parties, be it in parliament or on the street. Lalu, Paswan, Sharad Yadav & Shakeel Ahmed, all should show the powerful resistance to stop the railway project being transferred to West Bengal. Student Union of Bihar and other organizations should come on the street. Most of the time we have seen mouth platitude only by some of the leaders, this is the time to show the leadership for welfare of Bihari people. I am sure we will achieve our goal, if united.
Jitender Singh
Bangkok
Jitender.Kumar@delta.co.th
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It is wellknown that the IIT Kharagpur was originally planned for Bihar but was shifted to Bengal.The reason being that leaders from Bihar never cared for the wellbeing of the people of this state but they did care for their caste benefits without fail.Bengali leaders always thoug ht for the welfare of their community .This is the reason that they got everything for their state, mostly at the cost of Bihar.It may be mentioned that originally there was a proposal to have multipurpose irrigation cum power project for the Kosi river but the same was shifted to Punjab as Bhakhra Nangal because some engineers and politicians from that state manipulated the same.No Bihar politicians and officers took any interest in saving the interest of Bihar.Further Chittranjan Locomotive Works was meant for Bihar but Chittranjan Station is in Bihar and the factory was snatched away by Bengal. There is nothng like Bihari smita.Any body can play with its honour before unashamed,faceless Bihari politicians and beaurocrats.
It is wrong to say that Biharis are more nationalist than the others.Bengalis and Punjabis are equally nationalist.The difference is that their leaders care more for the wellbeing of the people of the state specially the poor and not simply--- for only their relatives and caste members.Infact this should be the quality of a good man and a good leader.Bihari leaders and officers are just the opposite.There is no sub nationalism----what to say nationalism----- in them.There is no spirit in them to fight for a good cause which can benefit the poor and the general public in the state. They are simply casteist worms and belong to anarrow thinking class and can not produce noble prize winners as are being produced by Bengalis and Punjabis.
As happened in the past it is certain ,unless Mamtaji shows some mercy, the projects framed for Bihar and even cleared by the central cabinet---will be shifted outside the state. More shocking news will follow .Projects will be made for Bihar but will be snatched away and executed in other other states before our naked eyes.The Bihari leaders will simply shed some drops of ghariyali aansu and go back to deal with caste and narrow politics again. This is our real future in store.
Dhirendra P Singh
New Jersey,USA.
dp.dhirendra@gmail.com
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