PM SLAMS ''DEVIL'' LALU OVER BEEF

Addressing a series of election meetings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, in his sharpest ever attack on RJD President Lalu Prasad, deftly turned the latter’s ‘shaitan’ remark on its head. Not just that, Modi dubbed Lalu a ‘shaitan’ (devil) and appealed to the people to reject him in the assembly elections.

Modi was referring to Lalu’s ‘Hindus eat beef’ remark, which the RJD leader had later attributed to ‘shaitan’ which had got hold of his tongue.

Without naming Lalu, the Prime Minister said that the ‘shaitan’ should not be allowed to take shelter anywhere in India. (Shaitan ko

Hindustan mai kahi bhee theekana nahee milna chahiye). He further said the ‘shaitan’ has insulted the Yadhuvans his by suggesting that even Hindus consume beef. Modi said the devil had entered this man (read Lalu) and further alleged that kidnapping was the biggest industry during 15 years of Jungle Raj (When Lalu and his wife were the chief ministers). Then, doctors and engineers were kidnapped for ransom; the modesty of women was outraged; children were killed during festive season; and people dared not witness even Ram Lila celebration. The Prime Minister said people were even reluctant to ply new vehicles on roads, lest these were snatched by the supporters of the then rulers. Modi, who addressed election meetings at Munger, Begusarai and Nawada, said the kidnapping industry has revived again and according to official records of the state government, 4000 people were kidnapped between January and July this year. “I apprehend kidnapping will increase in the coming festivals also”, he said. Bihar needs immediate liberation from Jungle Raj, Modi asserted. Without naming anybody, he said that the two gentlemen (Lalu and Nitish) were railway ministers but did nothing to improve rail communication in the state. For instance, no rail bridge was constructed at Munger and the one at Patna remained incomplete. Modi recalled Jaiprakash Narayan, who died this day in 1979, and invoked a poem of Ramdhari Singh Dinkar -- ‘Singhashan khali karo ki janta aati hai’ (Vacate the chair as people need a change).