BJP CMs queue up with demands

As BJP chief ministers are to take turns to meet the Prime Minister to seek redressal against the UPA’s “discrimination” towards them, Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank brought along his entire cabinet to meet Dr Manmohan Singh on Monday.

As BJP chief ministers are to take turns to meet the Prime Minister to seek redressal against the UPA’s “discrimination” towards them, Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank brought along his entire cabinet to meet Dr Manmohan Singh on Monday.

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Topping his agenda was a plea for an extension of the Concessional Industrial Package (CIP) for the state for another 10 years.

A 10-year CIP was introduced in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh by the NDA government in January 2003. The UPA government restricted the package period to

2007 but later extended it to 2010.

Nishank urged upon the PM to extend the package — ending on March 31 — till 2020 on the lines of a similar measure offered to the northeastern states. This was the third meeting between Nishank and Singh on the issue.

Nishnak told HT later that 2,000 industrial units have been set up in Uttarakhand since the launch of the package that provides tax holiday.

“An industrial boom is being witnessed in Uttarakhand after the Centre announced the special package in 2003 with companies like Tata Motors, Nestle, Bajaj Auto and Hero Honda setting up new units in the hill state,” he said .