Nitish conferred with 1st Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Award for Probity in Politics and Public Life

PATNA: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Monday said that problem in people's life begins only when their greed escalates. Mahatma Gandhi used to say a very important thing that this earth is capable of fulfilling the needs of human being and not their greed, Nitish said.
Nitish was speaking at a function at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium in Jammu, the winter capital of Jammu & Kashmir state, after receiving the 1st Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Award for Probity in Politics and Public Life.

He thanked Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti and the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Trust for selecting him for the award.

"It is a great moment of happiness for me and 11 crore people of Bihar that I was honoured by Jammu and Kashmir. My focus is on development, social harmony, maintenance of peace and a corruption free transparent governance in Bihar," Nitish said.

He said, "Growth with justice is our motto. We are working for development of all sections in Bihar with this motto. We ensure protection of environment and archaeological sites. We have established rule of law and are trying to strengthen further the atmosphere of brotherhood and social harmony."

Bihar government is also working in the area of social reforms by enforcing total prohibition and launching programmes against dowry and child marriage, the chief minister said.

He further praised Sayeed for his relentless efforts towards restoring peace in the valley. Recalling a famous quote of the PDP founder—"No solution will come from confrontation", Nitish said disputes can be resolved through talks only. He said that talks, not confrontation, would solve all sorts of issues in Jammu and Kashmir.

Recalling his long association with late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed since the Janta Dal days, Nitish said "When VP Singh Government was formed at the Centre, Sayeed was made union home minister while I was minister for state for agriculture. Again, when VP Singh constituted a political affairs committee of Janta Dal, I was member of that important committee with Sayeed."

Earlier, Nitish received the award from Jammu & Kashmir Governor NN Vohra who also presented a shawl and a traditional fur cap to him. Indian-origin UK politician Lord Meghnad Desai, Bihar deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi and JD(U) national general secretary Sanjay Jha were among those present on the occasion.

The award was constituted recently by the J&K's ruling PDP to commemorate its founder and two-time J&K CM late Sayeed on his second death anniversary. Father of Jammu & Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti, Sayeed died on January 7, 2016 after nearly a week-long hospitalisation in New Delhi.

"It's befitting that the 1st Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Award is being conferred upon @NitishKumar ji. His contributions in bringing probity in public life as well as his crusade against corruption in Bihar is commendable," Mehbooba Mufti said in a tweet from her official Twitter handle hours after the award was handed over to Bihar CM.