Modi uses bribe sting to target Nitish, Lalu
In a departure from direct attacks on rivals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday focused on Bihar’s farm woes besides using the sting operations against JD (U) and RJD leaders to hit out at the Grand Alliance (GA).
He also invoked socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan to exhort people to reject parties resorting to corruption.
While the tenor of his earlier rallies was indirectly running down RJD chief Lalu Prasad and chief minister Nitish Kumar on caste and beef-based issues, Modi took the JP route at his Jehanabad and Bhabua rallies to ‘expose’ the duo.
“This (sting operation) happened on the birth anniversary of JP, who stood up against corruption. JP’s struggle to wake up the nation led to his imprisonment, after which he died. Those who use JP’s name and claim to be taking his legacy forward insulted him on his birthday,” Modi added.
The sting operations led to the resignation of urban development minister Awadhesh Kumar Kushwaha, a key JD (U) leader, on Sunday. RJD, on the other hand, dismissed as conspiracy the exposé on senior leader Mudrika Singh Yadav.
Modi took a dig at Kumar for choosing a partner with a “history” of indulging in corruption, urging people to “clean them up” as a tribute to JP.
Insisting that only the NDA was committed to development, Modi pointed out that the focus of the “selfish, power-hungry leaders” of GA was not on uplifting the poor masses but “finishing Modi”.
“Democracy is not meant for finishing anyone. It is for raising the hopes and aspirations of the people,” Modi said, making a “neighbour’s promise” to change Bihar’s rural economy.
“Being the MP of Varanasi (UP), I am your nearest neighbour,” Modi said, assuring that he would undo the wastage of water and human resources of Bihar by successive governments.