Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, October 23
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today kicked off his election campaign in Bihar, pointing out the aid provided by the NDA government led by him for the development of the poll-bound state.
Starting his 12 series election meetings from Dehri-On-Sone, an abandoned industrial town in Rohtas district, pilgrimage centre Gaya and Bhagalpur, Prime Minister regretted that the chief minister, Nitish Kumar could not perform during the 10 years of UPA rule and also during his 18 months association with the RJD in Bihar.
He said both (Nitish and Modi) were chief ministers during the UPA regime for 10 years. Nitish could not do much for his state and when he joined hands with RJD to form the state government, he was not allowed to perform.
Nitish Kumar was present at Dehri and Bhagalpur meetings.
PM said Nitish got only 3/4 years to work with him and in this short time, Bihar government was able to multiply manifold the speed of development work. It made it clear that Nitish Kumar’s claim of Sushasan was bogus and he could succeed only due to help of Narendra Modi.
Addressing public meetings at Dehri -On Sone,an abandoned industrial town in Rohtas district,pilgrimage centre,Gaya and historical seat of learning of Vikramshila University at Bhagalpur, Prime Minister said both(Nitish and Modi) were chief ministers during the UPA regime for ten years.Nitish could not do much for his state and when he joined hands with RJD to form the state government,he was not allowed to perform.
The Prime Minister gave details of the central assistance to the Bihar government after he became Prime Minister and claimed that Rs 1.25 lakh crore special package helped Bihar develop, create new infrastructure, more medical colleges, more roads and high-ways.
Modi said at least 18 bridges were either completed or nearing completion on the Ganga in Bihar. For every 25 kms distance, there would be a river bridge on the Ganga. Modi said Kiul and Kosi rivers too got bridges due to central assistance.
The Swamitva Scheme to give land ownership cards to the landowners introduced in six states as a pilot project would be introduced in Bihar after the elections, he said.
At Dehri-on-Sone, he talked of the plight of the farmers and said in the Rice Bowl of Bihar, farmers must be getting more than minimum support price. He sought blessings of Mundeshwari Devi, the presiding deity of the town.
At Gaya which he described repeatedly as Gayaji (out of reverence), he hoped with law and order becoming normal and Gaya having an international airport, tourism will flourish. He said Gaya and Kushinagar (in UP) would be linked by airways to facilitate Buddhist pilgrims.
He also cautioned people against supporting the Left and ultra left parties who are part of alliance with the RJD in the elections as he alleged the central Bihar including Gaya witnessed massacres and caste clashes in the past.
Without referring to the claim of the chief minister that he had got all villages connected with metal roads under the Saat Nischay (seven resolves) programmes, the Prime Minister said Centre gave Rs 22,000 crore to Bihar for rural roads development projects under the PM Sadak Yojana.
Contrary to the action of Nitish Kumar in his election meetings, the Prime Minister started the day by paying tributes to the founder of LJP, Ram, Vilas Paswan and said he was his trusted colleague till his last breath. Paswan struggled for the poor and dalits, PM said while recalling his association with Paswan who died recently. He also paid tributes to the former union minister, Raghuwansh Prasad Singh who died of Corona
Without referring to the leaders opposing scrapping of Article 370 and opposing laws favouring Muslim women, Prime Minister declared there was no rethinking on the decisions. Recently, Jammu and Kashmir leaders through the Gupak declaration had demanded reintroduction of Article 370. Nitish Kumar too had opposed the two decisions, both inside the Parliament and outside.
Nitish Kumar profusely thanked the Prime Minister for the Union government’s co-operation to the state in anti-Corona measures and arranging special Shramik trains for the migrant workers.
As the first phase of assembly elections approached, top leaders of all the parties were in Bihar on Friday.
Besides the Prime Minister, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was in Bihar and addressed meetings at Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur and Hisua in Nawada.
BJP president, JP Nadda addressed two meetings in Siwan and Saran while Bahujan Samaj Party supremo was at Bhabhua in Kaimur district on UP_border.
JDU national president and Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar addressed NDA meetings at Sasaram and Bhagalpur.
