Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched the NDA’s campaign for the Assembly elections in Bihar with a massive rally in Motihari, urging the people to support the BJP-led alliance to build a ‘’new Bihar’’ and reject the RJD-Congress alliance once again.
Setting the stage for a fierce battle between the Modi-Nitish duo and the RJD-Congress leadership, the PM, addressing his third public rally in one-and-a-half months in the poll-bound state, asserted that the rapid progress in Bihar is possible today because both the Centre and the state have governments committed to its development.
He said that since coming to power in 2014, his government has allocated nearly Rs 9 lakh crore for Bihar’s development. He pointed out that this is four times more than what was provided by the UPA government during its 10-year rule. He affirmed that this funding is being utilised for public welfare and development projects across Bihar.
He commended Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government for appointing lakhs of youth in government roles with full transparency and said that significant efforts have been made in recent years to create employment opportunities within Bihar itself. He assured the continuous support of the central government in his efforts.
He also praised Nitish Kumar for increasing the social security pension from Rs 400 to Rs 1100 per month and for extending financial assistance exceeding Rs 1,000 crore to over 24,000 self-help groups in Bihar.
Modi criticised the previous governments of the RJD and the Congress for having long engaged in politics in the name of the poor, Dalits, backward classes, and tribal communities, and that they not only deny equal rights but also fail to show respect to those outside their own families. He asserted that Bihar is witnessing their arrogance clearly today.
He said: “Bihar is the land of change. You changed the situation. You have freed this land from the shackles of RJD and Congress. You made the impossible possible; that is why you are getting the benefits of all the welfare schemes.”
Earlier, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reminded people of Lalu-Rabri Raj and repeated that no work was done before 2005. Development of the state started only after the BJP and JD-U government was formed 20 years ago. He thanked PM Modi for his continuous support.
He also announced that the proposal of 125 units of free electricity in Bihar will be passed by the cabinet today itself.