Patna,(BiharTimes): Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi appeared soft towards small traders and hoarders while addressing them in the state capital.
Stating that he is more keen in catching big fish rather than small ones he went to the extent of saying that he would forgive small traders for their minor lapses, that is, hoarding and black marketing goods. These small traders earn little profit to keep their business going and facilitate studies of their children in good educational institutions.
Speaking at a conference of the Bihar State Foodgrain Dealers Association here, Manjhi assured businessmen of better security and improved law and order in the state. He warned the officers of severe action if they do not pick the phone calls of common people.
The chief minister said Bihar cannot develop without their growth. He said single window system would be introduced to facilitate entrepreneurs and businessmen.
Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh, who also spoke on the occasion, said agriculture produce would be out of the list of Goods and Services Tax (GST) proposed from 2015.
He said the government of India has refused to sign an agreement with the World Trade Organization to stop subsidy on fertilizer. The Centre gives Rs 80,000 crore subsidy to farmers every year which would continue and the subsidy would be sent directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries.
State agriculture minister Narendra Singh said Bihar government supported the cause of traders and the officers harassing them would be punished. There would be no FDI in retail trade in Bihar.
Though he defended the small traders and businessmen yet he went on to appeal to them not to blindly support one party but rise above party considerations for development of the state. He was clearly referring to the BJP.