Modi Hits Out at Former CM Lalu Prasad Yadav for His Recent Maha Kumbh Jibe
Mr Modi said: “The Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj is the greatest celebration of Bharat’s unity. The number of people who have taken a holy dip exceeds the population of Europe. Many people from Bihar have also undertaken the pilgrimage.”
New Delhi/Bhagalpur: Setting the tone for upcoming Assembly polls in Bihar later this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hit out at former chief minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav for his recent Maha Kumbh jibe and said that people will never forgive “leaders of jungle raj” who mocked and ridiculed the Hindu religion.
Addressing a function in Bihar's Bhagalpur district, Mr Modi, without naming any party or the former chief minister, Mr Modi also asserted that “the jungle raj wallahs hate our heritage and our faith”.
The NDA led by the BJP has often likened RJD rule in Bihar as “jungle raj” for the poor law and order in the state during its tenure.
Addressing a public meeting after transferring the 19th installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme at Bhagalpur, Mr Modi said: “The Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj is the greatest celebration of Bharat’s unity. The number of people who have taken a holy dip exceeds the population of Europe. Many people from Bihar have also undertaken the pilgrimage.”
“But these ‘jungle raj wallahs’ are speaking ill of Maha Kumbh and making vulgar remarks. These people were opposed to the Ram temple at Ayodhya too. I know Bihar will not forgive them,” he said.
While demanding the resignation of railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav over the stampede at New Delhi railway station recently, Mr Lalu Yadav questioned the heavy rush, saying: “What does Kumbh signify? It is nonsense.”
The Prime Minister, who disbursed around Rs 22,000 crores into the bank accounts of farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), began his 40-minute speech with a reference to Kumbh and its connection with Bihar.
“It is a matter of pride for me to be here, close to the Mandar mountain, at a time when the Maha Kumbh is underway at Prayagraj,” he said. Situated in the adjoining district of Banka, the “Mandar Parvat” is associated with the mythical churning of the ocean, which had produced the nectar stored in a pot (Kumbh), drops of which fell at Prayagraj, Nashik, Ujjain and Haridwar, places where the congregation is held every 12 years.
Mr Modi also hurled barbs at Mr Yadav, who has been convicted in fodder scam cases, with the repeated remark that “those who steal fodder (chara churane wale) can never ensure farmers' welfare”.
Calling Bihar the “most important pillar of eastern India’, Mr Modi said the state will enjoy the same glory in ‘Viksit Bharat’ as Pataliputra, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Magadh.
”The NDA government works to simultaneously preserve our grand ancient heritage and achieve a prosperous future. But the ‘jungle raj wallahs’ hate our heritage (virasat) and our faith (aastha),” he said.
The Prime Minister also accused the RJD and its ally Congress of having brought “ruin and disrepute to Bihar while sharing power in the state”.
He also spoke of schemes such as the “PM Phasal Bima Yojana”, under which Rs 1.75 lakh crores has been paid towards crop insurance, and claimed this was a far cry from the “the previous regimes, which left farmers in distress”.
”A recent spurt in agriculture exports has led to farmers getting better prices for their produce. Now is the time for Bihar's makhana (foxnuts). It is a superfood that I, too, take on most days during the year. This is the reason why we announced the setting up of a Makhana Board in the Budget,” Mr Modi said.
The Prime Minister noted there were around 75 lakh farmer families from Bihar who were beneficiaries of the PM KISAN scheme, whose 19th instalment was released on Monday.
“Around Rs 1,600 crore was credited directly into the bank accounts of Bihar farmers today,” Mr Modi said, and extended his warm greetings to all the farmer families from Bihar and other parts of the country.
Mentioning another significant initiative for the farmers and youth of Bihar in the Budget, Mr Modi highlighted that Bihar is set to become a major centre for the food processing industry in eastern India.
He announced the establishment of the National Institute of Food Technology and Entrepreneurship in Bihar and additionally, three new “Centres of Excellence” in agriculture will be established in the state.
”One of these centers will be set up in Bhagalpur, focusing on the Jardalu variety of mangoes, the other two centers will be established in Munger and Buxar, providing assistance to tomato, onion, and potato farmers,” the Prime Minister said and emphasized that the Government was leaving no stone unturned in making decisions that benefit farmers.
Incidentally, upon reaching the venue of the function, the Prime Minister was presented with a garland of "makhanas", which is believed to bring material and spiritual benefits.
Known for peppering his speeches with local flavour, the PM began his address in the Angika dialect and making a mention of Vikramshila, an ancient seat of learning close to Bhagalpur, and the Ajgaibinath temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The function was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Bihar governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Giriraj Singh and Chirag Paswan.
