PM's fierce election pitch in Bihar: Modi slams Nitish for back-stabbing people

“RJD ka matlab Rozana Jungle Raj ka Darr,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he launched a scathing attack on Nitish Kumar on Saturday. The PM  kicked off the NDA’s campaign for assembly elections in Bihar. Addressing a Parivartan Rally in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur, Modi attacked the JD(U)-RJD combine and said that former CM Nitish Kumar eyes revenge and has no intention of doing any developmental work in the state. “If you were angry with me, you could have admonished me, instead you were so miffed that you forsake development of Bihar. You have seen different models of governance, now give the NDA a chance to serve you,” Narendra Modi told the gathering. The turnout at the rally was huge and Modi said, “I can predict the results of Bihar elections based on the turnout today,” as the crowd cheered the PM. [caption id=“attachment_2363092” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “]  PM Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar at another function in Patna on Saturday. PTI[/caption] Adding that there was something wrong in Nitish Kumar’s political DNA, Modi said that Kumar ditched friends who once worked with him. “I was hurt when he withdrew his support. But when he did the same thing to a Mahadalit like Jitan Manjhi, then I figured out there is something wrong in his political DNA,” Modi said referring to events following the JD(U)’s split with the BJP in 2013. “What happened to those who worked with him? To George Fernandez? To our Sushil Modi who once worked shoulder to shoulder with him? Can’t you see there is something wrong with his political DNA,” he added. Modi said that all that the former CM cared about was personal gain and it was not in keeping with the spirit of democracy. “If you hated me so much you could have come into my room and slapped me. Or strangled me. For that you jeopardised the development of the entire state,” he said. Slamming RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Modi said that Bihar did not need the Lalu-Nitish government because they hardly talk of development. “There is no discussion on development, law and order etc but on snakes and poison. These two should sit and decide who is what.” Modi took a dig at Lalu for his comments about “drinking poison”, which was made in an apparent reference to his accepting Kumar’s leadership. He said while he had chosen to do so for his “vested interest”, why was he forcing the people of Bihar to “drink poison” along with him. “During the last elections, Kumar had said that if he was unable to provide electricity to entire Bihar, he would not come to ask for votes again in 2015…But have you got the electricity? It has not come. But he has come to ask for votes. He betrayed your trust. Forget me, he even back-stabbed you. Such people cannot be trusted again,” he said. The PM promised 24 hour electricity and gas pipeline in all homes in Bihar. Admonishing the ego clashes in Bihar, Modi said, “States have to work in consultation with the Centre. That’s the only way to development. If you are continuously at war with the central government, how do you expect the state to grow or progress? Maximum ministers and important portfolios in this (Central) government are from Bihar. Leaders from Bihar are running the nation.” Modi repeated his promise of giving special package to Bihar. “I want to give 50,000 crore to Bihar but when I thought about it I realised that’s not enough. Abhi toh Parliament chalu hai aur mere mooh pe tala hai (Since Parliament is on, I can’t say anything) but once the session is over, I will announce the new and better package,” Modi said. Nitish Kumar hit back at the Prime Minister and tweeted:

मोदी जी ने कहा मेरा डीएनए ख़राब है| मैं बिहार का बेटा हूँ तो ऐसे में मेरा डीएनए तो बिहार के लोगो का डीएनए है | (1/2)

— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) July 25, 2015

अब मैं बिहार की जनता पर छोड़ता हूँ कि उनके डीएनए को ख़राब बताने वाले को वह कैसे जवाब देती है| (2 /2 )

— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) July 25, 2015

More from Politics

Is Shashi Tharoor’s breakup with Congress inevitable? ‘Naxalism will end in India by March 2026’: Amit Shah at CRPF Raising Day parade

Modi’s address was met with lot of criticism with JD(U) leader KC Tyagi slammed the Prime Minister and said, “Aisa laga jaise koi Nitish Kumar se badla lene ki icchha se aaya hua hai. Mujhe unke bhaashan se niraasha hui. PM ke mooh se jaati ki baaten achi nahi lagti. Jis tarah se unhone yadhvansh ka haavala deke Lalu ji ka zikra kiya, ye kisi desh ke shaaleen Pradhaanmantri ko shobha nahi deta. (It looked like the PM was in Bihar to malign Nitish. This is vendetta politics and it doesn’t suit a Prime Minister of a country. I was disappointed.)” On a day-long visit to Bihar, Modi was received by Governor K.N. Tripathi and Nitish Kumar when he flew in here. The rally was attended by top BJP leaders of Bihar and its allies Ramvilas Paswan (Lok Janshakti Party), Upendra Kushwaha (Rashtriya Lok Samata Party) and Jitan Ram Manjhi (Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular). The NDA in Bihar is pitted against a combination of Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), Lalu Prasad’s RJD and the Congress in the assembly elections scheduled later this year. With PTI inputs