Modi invokes Sikh massacre, appeasement, infiltration, jungle raj in Bihar poll push

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a powerful election campaign in Bihar with a well-attended rally in Arrah, Bhojpur, on Sunday.

Overwhelmed by the massive public support, the prime minister said, “Those sitting in Delhi doing political arithmetic should come here and see which way the wind is blowing.”

Advertisement

“When I see this energy in all of you, the resolve to build a developed Bihar becomes even stronger,” he added.

Targeting the INDIA bloc, Modi once again raised the issues of jungle raj, infiltration, and appeasement politics. For the first time in Bihar, the prime minister referred to the Sikh massacre of 1984. By invoking the 1982 Sikh massacre before visiting the Patna Sahib Gurudwara to offer prayers, he set the direction for the BJP’s election campaign in the days to come.

Modi reiterated that the RJD-Congress alliance is trying to destroy Bihar’s identity. “These people are conducting rallies in support of infiltrators. They are fully committed to protecting them,” he said.

“On 1-2 November, 1984, Congress members carried out the Sikh massacre. Today’s Congress continues to promote and honour those guilty of that massacre. Whether it’s Congress or the RJD, neither feels any remorse for their sins,” he added.

He also said that jungle raj was the darkness that slowly hollowed out Bihar. “The symbols of RJD’s jungle raj are gun culture, cruelty, bitterness, bad values, misgovernance, and corruption. If the RJD brought jungle raj and appeasement politics to Bihar, Congress’s identity is tied to the massacre of Sikhs,” Modi stated.

Commenting on the declaration of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as the CM candidate of the Opposition INDIA bloc, the prime minister said the Congress never wanted an RJD leader to be declared chief ministerial candidate, but the RJD did not miss the opportunity either. “The RJD put a gun to Congress’s head and snatched the chief minister’s post. They forced an agreement in a closed room and then made Congress publicly announce its support under pressure,” Modi said.

The prime minister further stated that the NDA’s manifesto includes plans for rural prosperity. He made major announcements for farmers and livestock owners and promised that the network of food parks in Bihar would be expanded.

He announced that the new Bihar government would provide annual financial assistance of Rs 3,000 to farmers, in addition to the Rs 6,000 provided under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi by the Central government, and that financial aid to fishermen would be increased to Rs 9,000 per year. “To boost the income of livestock owners, we are launching the Milk Mission. There was a time when Bihar used to import fish from other states; now, because of NDA policies, Bihar exports fish to other states,” the prime minister said.