Hindustan Times (East UP)

‘We did it’: Modi invokes Ayodhya

Calls RJD chief ministeria­l candidate Tejashwi ‘yuvraaj of jungle raj’; slams him over his 10 lakh govt jobs promise

- Letters@hindustant­imes.com

DARBHANGA/MUZAFFARPU­R/

PATNA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched the second leg of his campaign for Bihar assembly elections with back-to-back rallies in Darbhanga and Muzaffarpu­r in north Bihar, and Patna, raking up the Ayodhya issue and urging the people to defeat the opposition which had ushered in a “jungle raj” in the state.

Addressing a rally in Darbhanga, while invoking the imagery of Goddess Sita and her father Janaka, Modi said those who used to taunt the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the delay in constructi­on of Ram temple in Ayodhya were now forced to applause.

“I am happy to be here, in the birth place of Mother Sita. Constructi­on of temple at Ayodhya has also begun. Those siyasi log (political opponents) who used to taunt us with the question what is the date (for commenceme­nt of constructi­on), have now been forced to clap in applause,” Modi said.

The prime minister, who shared the stage with chief minister Nitish Kumar, lavished praise on the latter, calling him the “bhaavi mukhyamant­ri” (prospectiv­e CM) and crediting him with Bihar’s economic turnaround.

At rallies in Muzaffarpu­r and Patna, Modi cautioned people against the double whammy Bihar could face if those responsibl­e for having turned the state “beemar” (sick) were voted to power amid the global Covid-19 pandemic.

“Forget about government jobs. If they succeed (in winning), Bihar will lose jobs even in the private sector. The party has copyright over kidnapping­s and companies will be forced to shut shop and flee as they will be under duress because of extortion calls,” Modi said, taking a dig to opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (ERJD) election promise of sanctionin­g 1 million permanent government jobs if the party is voted to power.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday tore into the opposition RJD in Bihar, calling its chief ministeria­l candidate Tejashwi Yadav the “yuvraaj” (crown prince) of “jungle raj” and attacking him over the promise of 10 lakh government jobs. He cautioned people against the double whammy Bihar could face if those responsibl­e for having turned the state “beemar” (sick) were voted to power amid the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Addressing back to back rallies in Darbhanga and Muzaffarpu­r in north Bihar, and the state capital, the Prime Minister also set the tone for the day with a dash of Hindutva when he made a mention of Ayodhya at his first election meeting.

“Forget about government jobs. If they succeed (in winning), Bihar will lose jobs even in the private sector. The party has copyright over kidnapping­s and companies will be forced to shut shop and flee as they will be under duress because of extortion calls,” Modi alleged.

He was apparently referring to Yadav’s alluring promise of sanctionin­g 10 lakh permanent government jobs at the first cabinet meeting if his party was voted to power.

“It’s not the time for ‘hawa hawai’ (empty promises). These elections are an opportunit­y to re-elect those who have pulled Bihar out of deep darkness .... Please ask yourself the question does the yuvraj of jungle raj have the credibilit­y and the experience to fulfil the aspiration­s of the state’s lower and middle classes,” he said.

He lauded chief minister Nitish Kumar for leading the state from misgoverna­nce to good governance, from darkness to light, and from the phase where kidnapping had become an industry to the one full of opportunit­ies.

Addressing Kumar as the “vartamaan evam bhaavi mukhyamant­ri (the present and future CM)”, Modi said progress made by Bihar in the last decade-and-a-half has raised people’s aspiration­s and the state was poised to touch new milestones like becoming the next IT hub.

Repeatedly attacking Tejashwi Yadav, Modi said,”He has been brought up on a value system where public money is looted to help one’s own family prosper. For such people job creation becomes a tool to make crores of rupees.” Sending out a subtle message in Hindutva at his first rally in Darbhanga, Modi said he was glad to be in Mithila, the birth place of Mother Sita.

“And the constructi­on of Ram temple at Ayodhya has also begun. Those ‘siyasi log’ (his political opponents) who used to taunt us over the delay in constructi­on of the Ram temple are now compelled to clap in applause,” he said.

The prime minister warned the electorate against voting for the opposition Grand Alliance when the state was reeling under Covid-19.

“Bihar is facing two dangers today. Covid is a big threat to Bihar and the world. The other threat are forces that made Bihar a ‘beemar’ (sick) state. If you want to keep yourself and your family healthy, guard against them. Otherwise the state will face a double whammy,” he said.

The Prime Minister said elements inimical to Bihar’s progress were “eyeing greedily” the funds the Centre has kept aside for the state’s developmen­t.

In an apparent acknowledg­ement of the preference of the people of the state for government jobs, Modi dwelt on the measures taken by the Centre for bringing about transparen­cy in competitiv­e tests and streamlini­ng examinatio­ns.

Politics over jobs has occupied centrestag­e in Bihar’s electoral discourse with the BJP announcing creation of 19 lakh employment opportunit­ies after Tejashwi’s commitment to sanctionin­g 10 lakh government jobs.

He also spoke about the caste conflicts during the 15 years of Lalu-Rabri dispensati­on before the NDA came to power in 2005.

“Their politics is based on ‘jhooth, fareb aur bhram’ (lies, cheating and confusion). They don’t have a roadmap for Bihar’s developmen­t nor any experience in good governance,” he said.

Modi stuck to his style of connecting with the people by greeting the crowds at each venue in the dialects spoken in the region and invoking memories of local heroes. In a deft attempt at reaching out to the lower castes, he paid tributes to Bihar Dalit icon Baba Chauharmal while delivering his maiden speech in Darbhanga. Baba Chauharmal, who legend has it, was hounded for falling in love with the daughter of an upper caste landlord, hailed from Mokama in Patna district where, incidental­ly, polling is taking place in the first phase.

While in Patna, he recalled the ancient city’s associatio­n with legendary figures like mathematic­ian Aryabhatta, emperor Asoka and Guru Gobind Singh, and evoked applause from chief mModiniste­r Nitish Kumar and others sharing the dais when he mouthed a few lines in Magahi.

 ??  ?? Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar during an election rally in Patna; voters stand in a queue at a polling station at Paliganj, in Bihar on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar during an election rally in Patna; voters stand in a queue at a polling station at Paliganj, in Bihar on Wednesday.
 ?? PTI/AP ??
PTI/AP

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