Modi makes Bihar pitch
Says RJD’S rule had brought a reign of ‘terror and loot’; NDA is in the best position to help the people of Bihar under Nitish
SASARAM/PATNA: Reminding Bihar of what he called the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) “Jungle Raj” marked by lawlessness, destruction and corruption, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday made a strong pitch for the re- election of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) “under the leadership of Nitish Kumar” in the upcoming assembly polls to create an Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) Bihar.
He also said that the Centre’s welfare measures, economic reforms and development programmes have benefited citizens; defended the state government’s handling of the pandemic; praised the valour of soldiers from Bihar in defending national security; and attacked the Opposition for speaking up for “middlemen” for personal benefit at the expense of national interest, and for aiding forces that want to “weaken” and “divide” the nation, and said India would stay firm.
On the first day of campaigning in Bihar, Modi — who addressed rallies in Sasaram, Gaya and Bhagalpur — declared that Bihar had made up its mind to re-elect the NDA to expedite development, and attempts to create “illusions” by “inflating the image” of select leaders or talking up the emergence of new forces will not work. His remark comes in the wake of reports of Opposition rallies, led by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, generating substantial crowds.
Modi also paid tribute to the late Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) founder and his former Cabinet colleague Ram Vilas Paswan for being a champion of Dalits and the poor, but did not mention Chirag Paswan or the LJP’S decision to contest separately in the state, while being a part of the NDA nationally. He, however, asked for votes in all three speeches for only the four NDA constituents — the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United) or JD(U), Hindustani Awam Morcha ( HAM), and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). After tracing the recent political history in Bihar, the PM also claimed that he and Nitish Kumar (who is the target of LJP’S and the Opposition’s attacks) had only got an opportunity to work together for three to four years so far and Bihar had a long way to go in its “development journey”.
The Opposition, however, slammed the PM for his silence on China, unemployment, and particularly the migrant crisis during the Covid-19 lockdown. “Workers from Bihar were chased away from Delhi and other states. They travelled on foot. When you were walking hungry and thirsty, did Modi help you?” Gandhi asked.
Modi’s speeches were marked by four big themes — a strong attack on the RJD, with an attempt to trigger memories of what he alleged was “misrule” during the period it was in power; a defence of the Centre’s rural schemes, recent agricultural reforms, and Swamitva scheme entailing the distribution of property identity cards to owners; a detailed defence of the progress made in Bihar, especially on economic and connectivity projects, and how this could only be sustained with the return of the NDA.