Nitish Thanks PM Modi for Caste Census Approval in Bihar

Karakat (Bihar), May 30 (PTI) - In a significant development, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for agreeing to a caste census, a demand Kumar has been ardently advocating. Kumar, the president of JD(U), shared the stage with the Prime Minister at Karakat, about 140 km from Patna, where over Rs 48,000 crore worth of development projects were inaugurated by Modi.

"Narendra Modi ji, much like the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has been instrumental in advancing our state's development. We must all respectfully recognize his contributions," said Kumar, who has maintained a complex alliance with the BJP since the 1990s, interspersed with phases of separation.

The JD(U) leader, who now assures that his commitment to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is steadfast, highlighted the recent Union budget, which included significant allocations for Bihar, such as provisions for a Makhana Board and the establishment of airports.

"I sincerely commend the Prime Minister for agreeing to the caste census. It represents a monumental step forward, fulfilling a long-standing demand of ours..... I urge everyone present here to rise for a round of applause," added Kumar.

Taking a veiled jab at the Congress-led opposition, Kumar remarked, "Certain parties are making uninformed statements about the caste census. They wasted opportunities when they held power."

Furthermore, Kumar aimed criticism at his perennial adversary, Lalu Prasad's RJD, without directly naming them. "The previous administration in Bihar achieved little. All critical areas such as education, infrastructure, employment, and women's empowerment have seen progress only after our governance began," he asserted.