Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has criticized the 20-year rule of BJP-JDU. He alleged that by destroying industries in Bihar, only “migration industry” was established, due to which more than 3 crore people migrated.
Patna: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has made a scathing attack on the last 20 years of BJP-JDU rule in Bihar. In a detailed post on the social media platform Congress leader Jairam Ramesh regretted that Bihar, which was once known for sugar, paper, jute, silk and dairy, has today become synonymous with unemployment and large-scale migration. At present, more than 3 crore people have left Bihar in search of employment, out of which laborers from border areas like Katihar, Kishanganj, Purnia, Araria are working as daily wages till Bengal and Assam.
Industrial foundation established during Congress rule
Jairam Ramesh reminded of the industrial work done by the Congress governments in undivided Bihar after independence. He said that during that period, Congress with foresight established many industrial units, which firmly established the state on the industrial map of the country. At that time the wheel of development was turning rapidly around heavy industry, energy, dairy and rail production. Major industrial units established during the Congress regime include Barauni Oil Refinery (which made Bihar the center of energy production), Sindri and Barauni Fertilizer Factory, Barauni Dairy (which is the foundation of today’s ‘Sudha Dairy’), Rail Wheel Factory (Bela), Diesel Locomotive Factory (Marhaura) and Navinagar Thermal Project.
Existing industries were also destroyed
Ramesh alleged that on one hand the Congress governments laid the industrial foundation, while the BJP-JDU government did not establish even a single important new industry, but also destroyed the existing industries with their corrupt and disorganized policies. He gave several examples: The 400-acre complex of the Ashoka Paper Mill is now in ruins. Bihar once had more than 33 sugar mills, accounting for about 40% of the country’s total sugar production; But today most of the mills like Sakri, Raiyam, Lohat are closed and their machines were sold as scrap. Similarly, Samastipur’s Rameshwar Jute Mill is closed since 2017, and Bhagalpur’s famous silk industry is dying, with 95% of weaver families mired in debt and poverty.
Questions on Chief Minister’s statements and Prime Minister’s promises
Jairam Ramesh also questioned the statement of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in which he had said that ‘big industries are located on the sea shore’. He also rejected the Union Minister’s argument that there is no land for industry in Bihar. He taunted and said that Prime Minister’s favorite industrialists are given land at Re 1 per acre, then why is there no land for other industries? Ramesh also alleged that the Prime Minister promises to restart the closed sugar mills in every election, but after every promise, sugar mills got closed one after the other.
Congress’s clear question and resolution of reconstruction
Congress has asked three basic questions to the BJP-JDU government
- When Congress had established heavy industries like Barauni, Sindri without sea, then why is it being said that setting up industries is impossible today?
- Is it not true that Bihar has been deindustrialized in the last 20 years and only a migration-based economy is left?
- Is it not true that the mills which provided employment to farmers, laborers and youth fell victim to the wrong policies and negligence of BJP-JDU?
Congress finally resolved to strengthen the tradition of industry, employment and self-reliance in Bihar, which the BJP-JDU government has deliberately weakened. His slogan is: “Bihar needs reconstruction, not migration.”