Participants at the Bihar Pradesh Marwari Sammelan at Sammelan Bhawan in Patna on Sunday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Patna, April 24: To give the demand for special status to the state a much-needed impetus, Bihar Pradeshik Marwari Sammelan launched a signature campaign on Sunday.

Chairman of the sammelan’s advisory committee Rampal Agrawal Nutan said at a news meet today: “This is not a political demand but the voice of Bihar. The campaign would continue till Bihar gets the special status. This is not an unjust demand but it’s going to benefit many people.”

Bihar Pradeshik Marwari Sammelan president Vijay Kumar Kishorepuria said: “We have 153 branches across the state. We began the campaign across the state today after an executive committee meeting. The target is to collect around 10 lakh signatures. After that, we will send them to the central government with the help of chief minister Nitish Kumar.”

Former president of the sammelan Kamal Nopani said: “There is almost no industry here in the state. If Bihar gets the special status, more investors will come here, as they will get additional profits. They would be able to get land at low rates and set up industries at low rates too. Many more brands are yet to come up in the state. Chhattisgarh got special status category and developed accordingly. Bihar too needs to get special status. A lot of resources went to Jharkhand after Bihar was divided.”

Sammelan spokesperson Sushil Gupta said: “If the state gets special status, industries can be set up at lowest rates. Even tax rates would be reduced. Brain drain in the state would also reduce. Bihar already has vast human resources, which could be utilised towards the welfare of the state.”

Treasurer Mahesh Jalan said: “Bihar should have got the special status before as several resources went to Jharkhand after the state was divided. Now, after Bihar gets special status, many agro-based units can be set up here. The people would be able to get quality products like litchis and makhana at nominal rates. Employment will also go up once industries are set up here.”