Patna: The Prime Minister made no mention of another key leader in the Opposition alliance, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, who has repeatedly targeted him on the reservations issue and castigated BJP president Amit Shah on communalism, and only said: “These days a lot of games are being played in the name of the poor.”
Turning to former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, who was sharing the stage with him in Banka, on whether he had faith in Nitish Kumar and his JD(U) government, he told the crowd: “See, even he doesn’t have faith in him, then how can you... after what he did to him how can anyone believe Mr Kumar and his team?”
“I want to develop the state that’s why I had announced a package of Rs 1.25 lakh crore but i think that if I send that money it will get rejected out of arrogance. I have no faith in the current state government,” Mr Modi said.
Mr Modi who inaugurated a 180 MW solar power station in Khunti, Jharkhand, before reaching Banka in Bihar, referred to a recent World Bank survey that showed Jharkhand was among the top three states favoured for setting up industries. “Bihar re-mained where it was but Jharkhand has now become the most favoured state for industrialists... this is what a recent World Bank survey says. Earlier, Jharkhand was in 29th position while Bihar was 27th. I want Bihar to go up like Jharkhand,” Mr Modi said in Banka.
Mr Kumar, he said, had also promised to provide electricity to the people, but he had failed. “As per his promises, he shouldn’t be coming to you seeking votes as he has failed in bringing electricity. Don’t believe in the government that cannot give you anything. I promise to give 24-hour round-the-clock uninterrupted power,” he added.
Besides electricity PM also claimed his government had chalked out plans to generate employment in the state and also provide better facilities for girls of economically-deprived backgrounds.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was “too arrogant” to be trusted with governing the state, and asked the people to back the BJP and its development agenda to change the state’s fortunes.
Targeting the Oppos-ition’s Grand Secular Alliance while addressing a rally at Banka, his first public meeting in the state after the announcement of Assembly elections, Mr Modi promised the people of Banka (and the rest of Bihar) round-the-clock electricity if they elected an NDA government to power in the state. Mr Modi said: “I want to develop the state, that’s why I announced a package of Rs 1.65 lakh crore, but I think if I send that money (now) it will get rejected out of arrogance. I have no faith in the current state government.”
“Some people are raising questions about the Rs 1.65 lakh crore package... They are asking whether it will come or not. Should a single rupee be given to the present government? Will it reach you?,” the PM asked. “Even if I give it, his (Nitish’s) arrogance is such that he may even return it. I am worried that even if I give the Rs 1.65 lakh crore to the state, he will announce he does not require this money as it has been given by Modi. I cannot trust him,” he said, recalling that an “angry” Mr Kumar had returned the Rs 5 crore relief announced by Gujarat for flood-affected Kosi victims.
