Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, October 28
As the country’s first polling during the Corona crisis concluded on Wednesday, the campaign for the second round of polling kicked off with Prime Minister Narendra Modi flaring up the issue of “Jungle Raj” in Bihar.
“A vote to the Grand Alliance would mean return to the Jungle Raj in the state which is already in grip of Corona,” Modi said while addressing three election meetings in three corners of the state- Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Patna, where the venue was next to Patna airport.
There would be a double whammy of Corona attack and Jungle Raj in the state if NDA was rejected, he added. In his election speeches, Modi described the CM candidate of Grand Alliance, Tejaswhi Yadav (without naming him), as Yuvraj (prince) of “Jungle Raj.”
Modi lavishly praised the Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar for developing the state with Central assistance and restoring good governance after 15 years of Jungle Raj. In return, Nitish reciprocated compliments and said under the leadership of Narendra Modi, India developed on all fronts. He also thanked him for controlling Corona
Modi said for development of Bihar and good governance, continuation of Nitish Kumar as chief minister was the need of the hour. The Prime Minister feared if NDA was voted out of power in the assembly elections, kidnapping for ransom would start as the “Yuvraj of Jungle” carried the copyright of the kidnapping industry. He was obviously referring to large-scale kidnappings and murders during Lalu-Rabri regime.
Those who looted Bihar, committed atrocities on poor, dalits and deprived were again trying to return to power, PM warned. Bihar needed an experienced Chief Minister like Nitish Kumar for creation of job opportunities to youths, better roads and discipline. During the Jungle Raj, opening IT centres was not even considered, but Nitish Kumar is going to make Patna an IT hub, work on Patna Metro project has started. If the Yuvraj of Jungle Raj was given power, Bihar would be devastated, PM cautioned.
The Prime Minister did not speak a word on LJP president Chirag Paswan, but frequently referred to Tejaswhi Yadav by calling him Yuvraj of Jungle Raj. The Chief Minister too refrained from taking the name of Chirag Paswan.
Reacting to the promise of Tejashwi that he would provide government jobs to one million youths, Modi said, “Leave the government jobs, even the private organisations and companies would deny jobs to Biharis. These organisations in fact would leave Bihar once the Jungle Raj Yuvraj assumed power. Only the kidnapping industry would flourish, rest of the industries would be out of Bihar,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister said a new international airport at Bihta, 25 kms west of present airport, would be operational soon. Ramayan, Budha and Jain tourist places would be developed, he said while appealing to the electorate to save Bihar returning to a sick state.
Nitish thanked the Prime Minister for extending financial assistance to the state for development projects, improving health facilities and creating more educational facilities. “Bihar developed fast only because of you, Mr Prime Minister”, Nitish said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are also camping in the state.
The second phase of election campaign too got off with high-voltage; while Modi called Tejashwi “Jungle raj ke Yuvraj”, former Chief Minister and HAM(S) President Jeetan Ram Manjhi described the LJP president Chirag Paswan as Corona Virus.
