Bihar Poll Rally: Rahul-Tejashwi Slam Modi-Nitish Over Jobs, China

The rally comes as PM Modi is simultaneously addressing three rallies in the state ahead of the elections next week.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav at their first joint rally in Bihar’s Nawada on Friday, 23 October.

(Photo: The Quint)

With the Bihar Assembly elections around the corner, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav addressed their first joint rally in Bihar’s Nawada on Friday, 23 October, ahead of the state elections next week. Later in the day they also visited Bhagalpur.

Addressing the rally, Rahul Gandhi referred to PM Modi’s old “promise” of depositing 15 lakhs in people’s bank accounts said: “BJP promising 19 lakh jobs in Bihar akin to its pledge of depositing Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts of people.”

Meanwhile, Tejashwi Yadav, the chief ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan, according to PTI, said the Bihar polls will not be fought on the issue of caste or religion but unemployment and poverty.

WHAT TEJASHWI YADAV SAID

Tejashwi Yadav also attacked CM Nitish Kumar over the issue of unemployment and special status to Bihar among other things.

“If I become CM, I will sign on order giving 10 lakhs government jobs to Bihar youth in my first cabinet meet. PM Modi is most welcome in Bihar but he should have given answers about special status to Bihar, absence of factories, unemployment and other state issues,” Yadav said.

(Photo: The Quint)

“CM says Bihar is a landlocked state, so factories cannot be established in the absence of sea. Nitish Ji, you are tired now and cannot handle Bihar. Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana are also landlocked states, yet our people go there to work as they have factories,” he said.

Further Tejashwi shared that his father Lalu Yadav will be out on bail on 9 November, and, according to PTI, said:

“Lalu ji is getting released on November 9. He has got one bail and will secure another on November 9, which also happens to be my birthday. The next day, Nitishji will have his farewell.”

WHAT RAHUL GANDHI SAID AT NAWADA

Rahul Gandhi took a jibe at PM Modi’s address in Sasaram earlier today where he paid tribute Galwan martyrs from Bihar.

“China killed 20 of our soldiers and encroached upon 1,200 square kilmeters of our land, but PM Modi insulted the martyrs by lying that China has not acquired any of our land. And then he says he bows to the martyrs?” Gandhi said.

(Photo: The Quint)

(Photo: The Quint)

Gandhi also went on to talk about jobs, asking PM Modi to not lie to the people of the state, saying that he had failed to provide jobs that he had promised.

“In public, he says I bow my head to Army, farmers, labourers and traders. But once he reaches home, he only works for Ambani and Adani,” Gandhi added.

He referred to the controversial farm laws passed by the Centre, saying that it had been done to attack farmers. “The PM is going to make lakhs jobless. Wherever PM Modi goes, he only lies,” Gandhi said, according to ANI.

(Photo: The Quint)

(Photo: The Quint)

According to PTI, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday, also alleged that “CM Nitish Kumar broke backbone of farmers, medium and small businesses.”

He also alleged that PM Modi who calls himself a nationalist had weakened the country in 6 years.

WHAT RAHUL GANDHI SAID AT BHAGALPUR

Rahul Gandhi also attended a rally in Bhagalpur, where, according to ANI, he lauded the labourers of Bihar working in different parts of the country for “giving their blood and sweat to this nation.”

He then reportedly hit out at PM Modi and said: “Narendra Modi did not give you even a single day and announced a nationwide lockdown. He did not think for even a minute that how will the labourers of Bihar get the money? How will they get food & drinking water?”

<b>“Labourers of Bihar left for their native state &amp; walked thousands of kilometres without food and water. Did PM help you? Did he say that he didn’t think &amp; ended up making a mistake? Did he offer buses, trucks, trains to go back home? No.”&nbsp; </b>

<b>Rahul Gandhi</b>

Gandhi also shared that he met labourers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, who told him “that had PM given them two days, lakhs of labourers would have easily returned home”.

“They couldn't understand why did the PM not give them at least one day.”

MORE DETAILS

Tejaswhi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi are also slated to address a series of public meetings at Hisua in Nawada and Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district, reported The Indian Express.

Meanwhile, PM Modi launched his campaign on Friday by addressing a rally at Dehri in Rohtas district. This will be followed by a second rally at Gaya's historic Gandhi Maidan venue and the third at Bhagalpur.

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala earlier on Friday said, “Will PM Modi today show the courage to announce special status for Bihar. PM Modi gathered praises but where is Central University in Bhagalpur? PM Modi needs to give a lot of answers to the 12 crore population of Bihar.”

The elections to the 243-member Assembly will be held in three phases – for 71 seats on 28 October, for 94 seats on 3 November, and for 78 on7 November. The results will be announced on 10 November.

(With inputs from ANI and IANS.)