Since when seeking financial aid from outside/private resources have become begging, Mr. Vishwakarma? And who said that crime control and Bihar building are exclusive to each other and couldn't be undertaken together?

You talk about first step and second step - check crime and then beg!! So let's assume Nitish was begging in Hyderabad. What did you want from him - skip the NRI meet completely because Lalu and his cohorts had destroyed the state by nurturing criminals in their party and wait for next year or the year after or the year after until all the criminals were put behind bars before the state government should have gone to the NRI meet?

It just so happened that the NRI meet was organized (by the UPA government, not Nitish government, mind you) in the early weeks of January 2006 - less than two months after Nitish and company came to power. Is it his fault that in two months he could not check crime in the state and therefore, according to you, he didn't have any moral right to ask for help (or beg, in your words) from the potential investors, NRI or not?

Any reasonable person would have tried to take advantage of the opportunity presented before him (the NRI meet). You would too, if you were in his position.

There is nothing wrong in giving credit where the credit is due.

I have been noticing that there are many people, mostly politicians from RJD and Congress, some in the media, and a large number of Congress-RJD cronies are secretly wishing, praying, hoping and sabotaging to ensure Nitish government fails miserably so their 'beloved raja' could once again come into power screaming "See, I told you so." They can't stand a man who is working hard to put the state back on the path of prosperity and peace because that would prove such people were wrong all along. Are you one of them, Mr. Vishwakarma? If not, then let's just leave this man alone for a few years. He knows what he is doing; probably a lot more than you and I and others on this forum combined! If he fails to deliver in 5 years, give a big kick in his behind and throw him out of power. But until then, hold your horses and quit second-guessing every move he makes. - Anil Kumar - Jan. 11, 2006

Anil Kumar you have missed the gist of my article. I have already commented about the inefficient Lalu in the first paragraph. My only contention is that one should first exercise the powers directly vested on them before counting on the far-fetched / dependent options. For example, let's assume that I work at a railway ticket counter and am a slow and inefficient worker who takes many breaks and processes the tickets very slowly. Now before taking out a julus/morcha for the common good against the inefficiency of say the electricity department (over which I have minimum control), it would be smarter to correct my own actions in my job first and help the common good. If I don't do this, then I am either ignorant or unethical or both.

I agree that it's too early to comment on Nitish yet but at the same time people should not lower their guard against the actions of all the politicians otherwise there is no difference between a blind BJP supporter and a blind RJD supporter. Both are a hazard to the common good. Just because you like the BJP, don't stop taking a critical look at their leaders and sugar coating all of their actions, same holds true for a RJD supporter. If all of us cannot do it then we are going to be struck in the one step forward and two steps backward syndrome. If you have not already read the book or seen the movie ‘Animal Farm’ yet, do it now, it might open up your eyes. It’s written by a very famous English author George Orwell (born in Motihari in Bihar). - Som Vishwakarma, USA - Jan. 11, 2006

Weary is the head that wears the crown. The other heads are relaxed and full of advice and ideas. As the lines of a famous ad go "Jub jeevan me ho aram to ideas aate hain". After all the other heads do not have to own any responsibility if things go wrong. They can conveniently pass the buck to the head with the crown and the wisdom inside that head.

I guess deep thought is required before suggesting anything. Feelings and fleeting or frivolous ideas should be first put to reason and thought. Something like putting oneself in Nitish Kumar's shoes, looking at the scenario through his eyes and being aware of all constraints and consequences. - Rajesh Chaubey - Jan.12, 2006

For last 10 years and so media and elites combined kept on repeating again and again that only and only Laloo Yadav is responsible for whatever is wrong with Bihar. It is very natural for people to expect that now Laloo has gone, problem should be not be there.

I know things do not work like that but very campaign against Laloo Yadav was on this line and no wonder now it is acting like double edge sword. How can BJP silent people when till last month all its leaders were shouting from top of the roof LAW & ORDER, JUNGLE RAJ?

Even Laloo Ji organized NRI meet in Patna, he visited USA, he visited Singapore but there was no investment and at that time opposition said unless law and order problem is fixed no body will invest in Bihar.

Well, where is the difference? Now Nitish Ji is luring NRIs and criminals are kidnapping the existing investors from Patna. Kids are being butchered on refusal of ransom. Situation is still the same!

People like me who really wish success to Nitish Ji and Sushil Ji are cautioning them against déjà vu.

I was very pleased to read that on Nitish Ji’s initiative, all three Big leaders of India, Nitish Ji, Laloo Ji and Ram Vilas Ji have formed a team Bihar, speaking for Bihar in one language. For the first time after Assam butchery, Shiv Sena beating, Atal Ji dropping his middle name, Goa ban and Laxman warning, here we are, Defense Ministry rejected Bihar’s Republic Day tableau on ‘Chhath Puja’ and all three leaders are writing to Defense Ministry. They all are protesting together against the idea to shelve the Ordnance Factory in Nalanda.

If Bihar has to survive, its leaders have to rise above party politics or else Laxaman will send all of them to Africa irrespective of the Party.

Those who are talking about law and order and those who are talking about development, all of them are right!

Nitish Ji will not fail, he has clear mandate, it will be altogether different story if like V P Singh government, BJP takes its support back. This is quite possible, because if Laxaman’s Bihari-Afrikee warning episode is any indicator, BJP still feels that it has no stake in Bihar, it got it by fluke and Bihar is secondary.

Patna is not Bhopal, here those who get support they get it for 15 years. Today in India, Nitish Ji and Sushil Ji are among the best leaders. If BJP will try to destabilize them then BJP will vanish from Bihar like Janta Dal but Nitish Ji and Sushil Ji will still rule Bihar because Biharis sign contract for 15 years and start reviewing the contract from first day.

I welcome the views of the Author of the original article. He is doing right thing by sharing his views. Even Ram Khelawan Yadav use to say with on DMU, “Laloo Yadav knows more than you all so keep quite”, no need to keep quite, please share your idea! - Vipin Singh - Jan.12, 2006

Dear Mr. Vishwakarma:

I have read the books by George Orwell (both the Animal Farm and the 1984) and I understand the nuances like some pigs are more equal than others and that the big brother is watching. Probably read it long before you read it (1968, to be exact, when, unlike in last 20 years, Patna University students actually used to study to pass the exams). Don't worry about opening my eyes but do worry about opening your mind.

I agree that people should not lower their guards (in spite of the fact that there was NO GUARD for last 15 years) but that is no reason for Nitish Kumar to not think about other ways to improve the state besides worrying about putting all the criminals in jails. These two things are not exclusive but can go together side by side. Your approach is 'do only this'; but my approach is, and thank God Nitish Kumar's approach is as well: 'not only do this, but keep working in other areas as well'. Do you see the difference?

Also, to equate seeking financial help or ideas from the NRIs or other prominent businessmen to begging is ludicrous, to say the least. What was Lalu doing throughout his 15 years of rule? Begging from the Central government, wouldn't you agree? In spite of 15 years of begging and an NRI meet in Patna and his futile visit to the US on taxpayer's money, what did Bihar get? Zero, zilch, zip, nada! Does that mean that just because Lalu failed in his attempt; other leaders will also fail in similar fashion? Do you know if Lalu's intentions were even genuine?

So have a little patience before you start judging the new Chief Minister's performance or motive. Don't expect miracles in 2 months - or even two years, for that matter. Like I said before, if Nitish Kumar doesn't deliver what he promised during the election campaign he will be shown the door in a heartbeat.

Monday-morning quarterbacking is easy; try to get in the game and see if you don't get bruised or hurt. - Anil Kumar - Jan.12, 2006

Any mention of cautious optimism against their lord and master the BJP and the NDA makes certain people jump out of their chair! The author has written a very good article. The investments will not come to Bihar just because Biharis contributed to the development of Punjab, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. The investments will only come when the businesses see profit (which is quite understandable). The profit will come only when the law and order situation improves drastically. That being said, don’t assume that I am a Lalu supporter simply because I am questioning the CM, because I am not. - Rajendra Kumar - Jan.12, 2006

Anil Kumar Jee if you gave Lalu only fifteen years to fix five thousand years of mess then giving Nitish Kumar two years for fixing fifteen years of mess is too much! Jokes apart, I didn't like people singing blind praises of any leader be it Advani, Lalu, Sonia or Nitish. It doesn't matter if you are a Yadav like Lalu or a Kurmi like Nitish but please stop being a fanatic supporter. - Ramsharan, Orlando, Florida, USA - Jan.12, 2006

Without building the foundation we cannot build a house over it. Without fulfilling the lower level of the Moslow pyramid the higher level cannot be reached. Business people take calculated risks and do not gamble blindly. Until the basic security needs of the people is satisfied the only businesses that will come would be the ones interested in getting acres of land at throwaway prices. - Rajesh Sahu, Manchester, UK - Jan.12, 2006

To Mr. Rajendra Kumar; so let's see, if someone comes out in support of BJP or NDA, that is because BJP or the NDA is their "lord and master". But when you come out in defense of your darling leader Lalu, it is because your views are very objective and your are 'more enlightened' than the rest of us mere mortals; right?

Adding a convenient disclaimer at the end of your message that you are not a Lalu supporter doesn't mean a thing. I can also add a similar notice at the end of my message saying I am not a BJP or NDA supporter. Would you believe me? Apparently not. So what makes you think I am going to believe you? Don't be a hypocrite; If you are a Lalu supporter, go ahead and admit it. There is nothing wrong with that. That's why there is a multi-party system in India.

And to you Ramsharan ji, you can sing paeans of Lalu all you want and you are considered an intellectually 'smarter person' than us ignorants. But God forbid if someone supports NDA. He is immediately branded as a fanatic. What did I say that you concluded that I was a 'fanatic'? When people run out of valid arguments, they seek shelter in name calling just like you did. And why, in the name of God, do you have to drag in Kurmis and Yadavs in this discussion? It's people like you who pull out the caste and class cards at the drop of a hat but call others casteists. No point in having a discussion with you. - Anil Kumar - Jan.12, 2006

I fully and whole-heartily support Nitish Ji in the recent NRI convention in Hyderabad. What he is doing there is the first step towards bringing prosperity to our beleaguered state. If bringing FDI or any kind of investment is called begging, then be it! What matters here is the net result and that is well being of the state of Bihar after 15 years of misrule. As a well wisher i wish the newly elected CM all the best in his endeavors. - Ameet Srivastava, USA - Jan. 12, 2006

Guys there is no point of indulging in name calling because of the knee jerk reaction of some or shall I say one reader. Peace. - Rajesh Sahu, Manchester, UK - Jan. 12, 2006

'Shaant, gadaa-dhaari Bheem, Shaant!'. In college, whenever someone in our friend's group lost temper in a discussion, we used to pacify him by saying this famous line from the TV Serial 'Mahabharat'. Not that I do not have an opinion on this article, just that I follow the policy of not discussing politics and religion in public. By the way, going by one of our friend's statement here, Nitish Kumar has to fix the mess of not just 15 years, but, 5000 + 15 = 5015 years. Does our CM know that? Just kidding. - Kumod Jha - Jan. 12, 2006

During the election campaign, Nitish and his party asked Bihar to give them a chance, and their top most priority will be law and order. In 90 days, they promised, we will control crimes in Bihar. It has already crossed the halfway mark. Some in this forum have mentioned that he needs at least 2 years to gain control. If we judge him simply by his campaign promises, then we can lump him in with rest of the liars who wanted to occupy the chair and rob Bihar and its citizens. Campaign promises, at best, seem like fantasies. I am not a blind supporter of Lalu Pd or Nitish Kumar. I support Bihar. Whoever will work for the good of Bihar is welcome by me. As Chief Minister, you have power, and if you know how to use it, control will come in a minute.

I read in the news yesterday that he has said to the top brass of the cops that he does not want to hear details, he wants to see only results. That is the spirit. I am fully supporting him to bring Prosperity and Happiness in Bihar. Do everything you can do to make Bihar prosperous and on the world map. We have talent, manpower, land and other resources. The ingredients are already here, waiting for a catalyst to get things moving positively. Nitish seems to have the tools to do this. Mr. Nitish, you can start with the criminals who call themselves ministers. They change parties like other people change their clothes, and they take every opportunity to line their pockets and turn a blind eye to the chaos that reigns around them. Caution, Mr. Nitish: If you close your eyes to what they do, these wolves will turn on you and bite, as they have done to your predecessors. You must know, as we all are aware, "Ghar Ka Bhedi Lanka Dhaye". So, please control them, control the crime and money will be flowing in Bihar.

I disagree with some of our Bihar brothers about the 15 years of misrule by Lalu Pd. It is true that he did nothing for the development of Bihar, and additionally allowed crime to run rampant. Let me remind you that when Congress ruled, our Bihari “leaders” were licking the feet of centre and doing nothing else. South India took everything that was proposed for Bihar, and our leaders were feeding their own homes. If we believe the things that we write here, then comments about which caste a leader belongs to are inappropriate. Bias is pervasive. Events in the past are just that: PAST. Nothing can be done to change them. All we can do is start in a new place and be determined that we will take these lemons handed to us and make lemonade from them. Please rise above caste politics and think solely about Bihar and what we all can do from this point onward.

Personally, I support Nitish for going to Hyderabad to invite NRIs to invest in Bihar. There is nothing wrong in exploring all lawful options and avenues available to us. - S. M. Khurshid Anwar, New York, USA - Jan, 12, 2006

Discussion on this topic is now closed.