Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, 28 October, attacked the Opposition over multiple issues ranging from crime statistics to the Ram Temple and took jibes at the Lalu Yadav family, saying “darkness of the lantern era is over”.
Addressing three rallies at Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Patna, PM Modi also targeted the promise of employment generation made by the Tejashwi Yadav-led Mahagathbandhan.
PM Modi addressed the three rallies even as the first phase of polling was underway for Bihar Assembly elections, with votes being cast in 71 of 243 constituencies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar (L) and Union Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad (R) during an election rally, at the veterinary ground in Patna.
(Photo: PTI)
Invoking Ram Mandir On the ‘Land of Sita’
Ahead of PM Modi’s address in Darbhanga, CM Nitish Kumar thanked him for launching developmental projects across Bihar.
PM Modi Modi raised the Ram Mandir issue in his rally in Darbhanga.
“A grand Ram Temple is being built in Ayodhya... but those political forces who used to question us on the date (of when the temple construction will begin) are now forced to applaud... This is the identity of the BJP and the NDA, we do what we promise,” Modi said while referring to Sita's connection with the Mithila region of which Darbhanga is a part.
Attacking the RJD, without referring to it directly, over the law and order issue, the prime minister said, "The people of Bihar have resolved to again defeat those who introduced the 'jungle raj' in the state and looted Bihar. Crime was rampant in the state under them."
He said that those who ruled Bihar in the past had special 'love' for the word 'commission' and alleged that bribery was the norm while schemes were not implemented.
“On the one hand, NDA is standing with a resolve to build a self-reliant Bihar. On the other hand, there are people who are looking at the money of Bihar’s development projects.”PM Narendra Modi
‘Yuvraj of Jungle Raj’
Upping the ante on the main opposition party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) without directly naming it, PM Modi continued his attack, as he addressed his second rally of the day.
As Bihar votes for phase one, the PM warned the people of Muzaffarpur about the ‘Yuvraj of Jungle Raj’ in an apparent reference to Tejashwi Yadav and the 'kidnapping industry' of the past.
He also played on the fear psychosis of the crowd by wondering about the fate of the COVID relief fund if a party known for lawlessness returned to power.
He went a step further to raise questions on the handling of funds meant for containing the pandemic. “You can imagine what will happen to the funds for COVID-19 if they come to power... What else can residents of Bihar expect from the 'Yuvraj' (prince) of 'Jungle Raj', given their past record?”
“Forget about providing government jobs, even the private companies will vanish (if they come)... They have the copyright on the kidnapping industry,” warned Modi.
Questioning the alleged lawlessness of the Lalu era to a younger generation ‘who may not be aware of the realities of the time’ but have the right to vote now, PM Modi said, "The political party which is infamous for closing down industries of Bihar, from whom investors kept distance, is now promising development to the people of the state."
This was an apparent dig at RJD's promise of creating 10 lakh jobs and taking it up in the first cabinet meeting itself.
‘Days of Lantern Are Over’
PM Modi raked up Bihar's past to project its future in his Patna rally, which was his third on Wednesday. He said, the days of the lantern were over, referring to better electric supply, as part of his 'vikas' agenda; at a metaphoric level, it was also a political dig, given the main opposition RJD's electoral symbol is a lantern.
“Atal ji (former Prime Minister) used to say that in Bihar, in-bound supply of electricity is less while it vanishes more. The darkness of the lantern era is now over. Bihar's aspirations now are of continued electricity supply, of LED bulbs,” said Modi, sharing the stage with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as the crowd cheered for the PM and chanted his name.
“Who can fulfil the aspirations of the poor and the middle class of Bihar? Those who looted Bihar, can they do it? Those who single-handedly thought of their families and did injustice to everyone will never realise Bihar’s expectations. Only the NDA can do it,” said the PM.
Making a comparison with the COVID precautions, he said, just like people of Bihar can save themselves from COVID-19 by wearing a mask, they can also "save Bihar" from becoming 'bimar' with a single vote.
The first phase of polling covers the southern part of Bihar, with a slightly heavier concentration in the south-west. Region-wise, this would be the Magadh and Bhojpur regions. The state capital Patna also votes in the first phase.
(With inputs from IANS.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)