Patna: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday appealed to the media to focus on the positives and not just play up negative news.

"Please give space to at least two positive stories instead of focusing only on negative stories. If negative things happen, you all will bring it to light and that is necessary too. But show positive stories too," Nitish said.

In what seemed a reference to Lalu Prasad - though he did not name the RJD chief - the chief minister said there are people "who say mindless, negative things, which are lapped up by the media. But I do not have the habit of reacting to such talk. I would just request to give space to positive things too."

He was addressing a conclave on "the new roadmap for Bihar" organised by a regional news channel.

"I do not indulge in politics over development of the state," Nitish said. "My focus is development of the state and its society.

"There should be love and harmony in the society instead of an environment of fight and stress. I remain alert to ensure that communal harmony as well as law and order prevail here. Criminals will not be spared."

He asserted that all habitations will be electrified by the end of this year, while all households will be provided electricity connection by 2018-end. He said the government is building and widening roads and bridges to ensure that people from any part of the state can reach Patna in five hours.

"We have progressed after establishing the rule of law in Bihar," Nitish said. "Much work has been done in the field of health and education too. We cannot reach the top till basic infrastructure is not strong."

He said his government was focusing on agriculture in a big way as 76 per cent of Bihar's population depends on it for livelihood.

"Our aim is to increase the income of farmers. By farmers we don't mean only those who have cultivable land. All those who work in farms are included under it," he said.

"We have prepared the agriculture roadmap for 2017-2022 and have requested President Ram Nath Kovind to launch it. Very soon a date for it will be fixed," the chief minister added.

He also appealed to the people to whole-heartedly participate in the campaign against dowry and child marriage, just like they did for prohibition.