Delhi must fully fund all central schemes, says Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said the centrally sponsored schemes, in which the Centre and states share funds in 60:40 ratio, should be abolished and replaced with the central sector schemes fully funded by the Centre.
"The states should be free to have their own schemes," Nitish told reporters on the sidelines of Samvad, a citizen-connect programme of the state government. The CM said his prime concern was removing the state's economic backwardness.
The CM said the state government has already informed the Centre about its stand on centrally sponsored schemes and also mentioned it in the memorandum submitted to the 15th Finance Commission chairman N K Singh for grant of special category status to the state. The CM said Bihar was a fit case for grant of special category status.
Nitish, who is also the national president of JD(U), reiterated that though his party did not join the Union council of ministers, his relations with PM Narendra Modi were still cordial. "It is a matter of relationship. It has not changed. There are no differences with the BJP. The JD(U)'s relation with the BJP is also as strong as it was in the past," Nitish said.
Nitish, however said his party would not compromise on "fundamental" issues with national bearing like Article 370, Uniform Civil Code and construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya. "Our party's stand on these issues remains the same," the CM said. He said though JD(U) did not join the Union cabinet, it would in no way affect implementation of development schemes in the state.
"My style of functioning is different. I don't compromise with the development of the state. The basic point is that we are working for Bihar, which is also a part of the country," Nitish said, adding the Centre has been implementing various schemes for the state.
On controversial statements by some opposition leaders during the last parliamentary polls, Nitish said, "I usually do not give replies to nasty statements made against me."