Narendra Modi accuses grand alliance of ‘sheltering’ terrorists

Darbhanga: Scaling up his attack on grand alliance leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused them of playing with nation's security by "sheltering" those promoting terror and asked if such people should be allowed to form government in the state.

Winding up his campaign blitzkrieg in Bihar where he addressed about 30 election rallies, Modi also attacked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad on the quota issue, claiming he has "exposed" their "lies" and attempts at giving the assembly polls a "casteist colour".

Modi has been repeatedly targeting the alliance for allegedly trying to "snatch away" 5 per cent share in reservation for dalits, tribals and backwards and give it to a "particular community".

"When there were blasts in Pune and Mumbai and a dalit police officer was investigating the 'Darbhanga module' of terror, its strings touched some leaders closely associated with those in power.”

"While no action was taken against those encouraging and blessing people involved in terrorist activities, the brave policewoman seeking to find the truth was forced to leave Darbhanga and Bihar.”

"Do you want such people to rule in Patna who play with the country's security, those who shelter terrorists and encourage them? Do you want a government of such people? Do you want terrorism to enter this land of Bihar? Do you want Bihar to become a land of bomb blasts?" he asked.

He exhorted people to elect a BJP-led NDA government instead.

The Prime Minister said while he talked of uplifting Bihar through development, the grand alliance leaders tried to enact a "drama" and gave "casteist colour" to the assembly polls by spreading "imaginary fears" about a move to scrap quotas.

"They are spreading imaginary fear and lies about reservation and their courtiers sitting in Delhi are also shouting loudly. I have exposed them (Lalu and Nitish) and they are unable to stand up. They sought review of reservation in Parliament and from a common platform on July 23 and 24, 2005. They wanted to reduce the reservation for dalits, tribals and backwards and to give it on religious lines to a particular community, so they could remain in power.”

"I have punctured their balloon and they are now unable to stand up and face the public...Now when I have exposed them by releasing their video and speeches, they have stopped talking of reservation over the past week and are running away," he said.

Modi also attacked Lalu-Nitish over 'jungle raj' and 'jantra-mantra raj'. "The 'jungle raj' and 'jantra-mantra raj' have got together and this duo will ruin Bihar completely...I have come here to seek your support and change the state's fortune...Bihar now needs two engines to steer it out of this big pit that these leaders of grand alliance have thrown it into in the last many years of their rule. One you already have in Delhi and another you need in Patna under BJP and its allies," he said.

The Prime Minister wondered how the grand alliance partners would remain united after the polls when they were not seen together during the election campaign, which stretched over two months.

"Have you seen Nitish babu, Laluji or Rahulji together on a single platform during this two-month-long poll campaign? If they can't be together due to mistrust among them, they cannot do any good to you," he said.

Modi claimed Lalu was eyeing the Leader of Opposition's post for one of his sons. "I want to ask Lalu publicly...Nitish babu, Laluji, Soniaji, please do tell people of Bihar as to who will be the Leader of Opposition. Lalu's son or Nitish babu. People of Bihar want to know this, and they should be told about it. I demand this from you," he said.

Modi also accused Lalu of "insulting" 'Maithili' language, spoken in large parts in north Bihar, by removing it from the list of official languages recognized by the State Public Service Commission in 1990. He said the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee restored its "status and dignity" in 2002 by including it in the 8th schedule.

The Prime Minister slammed Nitish Kumar for not keeping his promise of confiscating properties of those convicted of corruption charges like Lalu Prasad.

Terming the corrupt as "termites", Modi said, "When you press the button to cast your vote in this election, it will act like an injection that will kill this termite of corruption."