Nitish hails Chinese growth

He, however, refused to replicate the Chinese model of growth in India.
Nitish, who led a seven-member delegation to China, told reporters that his visit to the Communist country was an enriching experience.

 “The way China is progressing in different sectors was an eye-opener for me. Be it agriculture, industry, power or railways, their progress in these areas was worth watching. Their vegetable farming with new technology and techniques certainly impressed me a lot. One can see the vegetable farms and green houses stretching for miles in rural areas. No wonder it is able to feed South Korea, and even Japan, with vegetables,” Nitish said.

He was, however, candid enough to admit that it would not be feasible to replicate the Chinese model of development in India.

 “They have a different political set-up and it would not be feasible to ape the Chinese model in our own country which has a democratic political system. But the way they are progressing, one can only marvel at their development strategy,” he said.

“The most striking feature was that if the Chinese start a programme, they will achieve the target within the stipulated time-frame at any cost,” said Nitish in an apparent reference to the system in India where the government can’t impose its wishes and dictum on the people the way China do with force.

 “I was amazed to see the power plants which boasted of 100 per cent capacity utilisation. They have built quality eight-lane roads with green patches on both flanks. Even in urban areas, you will not find any barren stretch. Either there will be roads or they will have green cover,” added Nitish.

He, however, maintained that though India could not adopt the Chinese model for growth, he was proud of “Indian democracy and its development model.”

Reviving ties

During his week-long visit, Nitish also urged India and China to rediscover their centuries-old close cultural and religious ties.

“The term ‘Bihar’ is itself derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Vihara’, which has relations with Buddhist viharas,” he pointed out.

Talking about the revival of famous fourth century Nalanda University, specialising in Buddhist studies, Nitish said scholars from Nalanda University such as Bodhidharma took Buddhism to other parts of the world, including China, Korea and Japan.

“Hieun Tsang, the legendary Chinese traveller, who stayed at the ancient Nalanda University for 17 years during the seventh century AD, has left a detailed account of Nalanda,” he said.

“Buddhism has been the most inclusive, most tolerant and most accommodative way of life.”