Kalam’s Bihar vision: Progress by 2015

President Agrees to help Nitish Kumar, will again visit state in March to lay down roadmap

PATNA, DECEMBER 30: President A P J Abdul Kalam today presented his vision for Bihar to emerge as a developed state by 2015 and expressed his confidence on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership to achieve the goal.
��He has taken the big responsibility of developing Bihar on his shoulders. He seems to be confident, and thereby, I am hopeful that he will succeed,’’ Kalam said while addressing a function after inaugurating a ward at the Mahavir Cancer Institute.

Nitish Kumar, who was also present at the occasion, used the opportunity and sought the President’s guidance for his mission to develop the state, and the latter agreed instantly. The President would visit Bihar in March next year for laying down the roadmap.

We have to work. There is no other alternative. I have requested the President to guide me in Bihar’s development and he has accepted it. He has also accepted my invitation to come here once again in March,’’ Nitish Kumar said while addressing a function along with Kalam in the Patna High Court.

The President arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit. He attended several functions and talked about the country’s as well as Bihar’s development. Bihar Vision: Developed State by 2015—read the concluding portion of his speech during a convocation ceremony of the Patna University.

Stressing the need for the state’s development, the President said that India cannot be emerged as a developed country till Bihar is developed.

In Darbhanga, Kalam said, ��According to economists, our country should grow at a rate of 10 per cent per annum for a decade to uplift 250 million people living the below poverty line. Our GDP is growing at over seven per annum on an average.’’ “Bihar’s fertile soil can be a great contributor in achieving the aim of $1 billion export in medicinal, floriculture and aromatic plants and even orchids,’’ he said.

On crime and corruption, he said that it is very shameful when India is referred to as a country entrapped by corruption. ��Children could be a great force in wiping out corruption from the country,’’ Kalam added.

Nitish Kumar refuses to wear gown at convocation

PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday refused to be dressed in a gown for the convocation of Patna University, addressed by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, as a ��mark of protest’’.

��I was asked by the PU officials to put on the gown but I did not not entertain it as a protest,’’ Kumar said. ��But you should know why I did not wear the gown though even dignitaries on the dais including President, Governor and my ministerial colleague Brishen Patel wore it. I, too, had dreamt of wearing a gown at a convocation when I graduated, but never got an opportunity then.’’ —PTI