Patna: Prime Minister (PM)
Narendra Modi on Thursday said fulfilling the dreams of Bihar’s youth was the “sankalp” (resolve) of both “Narendra and Nitish”, even as he launched a blistering attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly insulting Chhathi Maiya. Addressing twin election rallies in Muzaffarpur and Chhapra, Modi wove together the promise of youth empowerment with sharp criticism of the opposition, accusing them of misleading voters and disrespecting Bihar’s culture and faith.
In Muzaffarpur, Modi questioned, “Will Bihar and Hindustan forgive those who insulted even Chhathi Maiya for votes?” He was referring to Rahul’s recent remarks, where the Congress leader said Modi could even dance on stage for votes and had done “drama” in the name of Chhath. “While your son Modi is trying to get Chhath registered on the Unesco heritage list, the Congress-RJD people are insulting Chhathi Maiya for votes. Will Bihar, Hindustan and the mothers and sisters who fast without water during Chhath tolerate such insults and not punish them?” Modi asked.
He added that such comments would not be forgiven “for hundreds of years to come”. Announcing a national competition to recognise the best singers of Chhath bhajans, he said, “People will select and the govt will honour the best Chhath bhajan singers in the country,” while praising a girl from Nagaland for her rendition of Chhath songs.
In Chhapra, the PM struck a developmental chord. “Your dream is my resolution. Narendra and Nitish will realise it. It’s time to undertake Bihar’s journey from good governance to prosperity. It’s your duty to maintain its continuity,” he said.
The PM assured that youth would soon find jobs within the state after the NDA returned to power, promising to stop migration by creating local employment opportunities. However, he warned the young voters against “false promises” made by the opposition. “Their manifesto is nothing but their rate list for what they intend to get in return,” he said.
Taking aim at the RJD and Congress, Modi said their leaders avoided visiting Ayodhya because of “appeasement and vote-bank politics”. He added that the NDA was committed to blending development with heritage, as seen in projects like the Hariharnath corridor being developed on the lines of Kashi, which he said had boosted tourism and the livelihoods of small vendors. “Our govt is connecting the treasures of Bihar with employment,” he said.
Recalling Saran’s industrial past, he said, “Marhaura in Saran was once known for industries and its chocolates (lemonchus) were popular in the country. But the chocolate and other factories shut down after the RJD brought jungle raj. Today, under the NDA govt, Marhaura is manufacturing and exporting rail engines abroad.”
Drawing sharp contrasts, Modi said while NDA stood for “padhai, kamai, davai and sichai”, the RJD-Congress symbolised “katta, krurta, katuta, kushasan and corruption”. “Law and governance suffer where there is katta and krurta, and social justice is not possible amid corruption,” he said. The PM asked, “Can people bring back to power those responsible for jungle raj?”
He lashed out at Rahul and RJD’s Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, branding them as “two yuvrajs – one the prince of the country’s most corrupt family and the other of Bihar’s most corrupt family.” Modi alleged, “The two are on bail in corruption cases and have opened a shop of false promises. Can such people ever do good to Bihar?” He said both parties were like “oil and water”, claiming they stayed together only out of “lust for power”.
Pointing to Congress’s internal strategy, he said the party had invited a Punjab leader, who once “abused Bihar people”, to campaign in the state. “Congress wants RJD to suffer maximum loss. This shows how deep their rift runs,” he said.
Modi also touched on the state’s economic progress, saying that 1.5 lakh bikes were sold during the recent festive season — triple that of the previous year — due to reduced GST rates. He recalled how “RJD goons once looted car showrooms” and recounted the 2001 Muzaffarpur incident when an eight-year-old boy was kidnapped and killed. “Can anyone set up industry in such a state? Land, electricity and rule of law are must for industry to come. Can those who looted railways and grabbed land for jobs bring light and connectivity?” he asked.
Highlighting NDA’s developmental achievements, Modi said around Rs1,500 crore had been disbursed to Muzaffarpur farmers under the Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme and that food processing units were being set up to boost local produce. “Our govt wants one Bihar product in every plate globally — be it Shahi Litchi, Jardaloo mango, Mithila makhana or katarni-marcha rice,” he said.
Concluding his speech in Chhapra, Modi said, “Your parents voted the jungle raj people out of power and brought sushasan. Now it’s your turn to keep them away and move the journey of sushasan towards samridhi.”
Start a Conversation
Post comment