Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a Rs1.65 lakh crore package for Bihar, and asked people to vote for the BJP in the forthcoming Assembly polls saying the present Bihar Government would not be able to utilise it for the welfare of the “BIMARU” State and its poor people.
Speaking at an official function in Ara and later addressing a BJP’s Parivartan Rally in Saharsa, the PM said he was fulfilling his promise of special package to Bihar he had made during the lok Sabha election campaign. He reminded the people that he had promised a package of Rs50,000 crore but after assuming power at the Centre he studied the Bihar situation and came to conclusion that the promised amount would not be sufficient.
In addition to the Rs1.25 lakh crore, the package included over Rs40,000 crore of unspent money from two previous packages and the amount for the Centrally sponsored projects. “This comes to Rs1.65 lakh crore, the biggest ever package for Bihar,” he declared at Ara amid thunderous applause.
Unleashing scathing attack on the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar Government, Modi pointed out that in 2003 the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government had given a financial assistance package of Rs10,000 to Bihar after the creation of Jharkhand but by 2013 only Rs9,000 crore could be utilised.
“In 2013, when Nitish betrayed the BJP and then rushed to Delhi to hold the feet of the then UPA Government and compromised with the dignity of Bihar, the Centre gave them a package of Rs12,000 crore. It was as if as if a crying child was handed out a chocolate to make him happy. He (Nitish) started dancing on this package. But out of this Rs12,000 crore only Rs4,000 crore has been utilised, so far,” said Modi.
“With this package, we will change the face and fate of Bihar and ensure the development of its people,” Modi said while asking them to install a strong BJP-led NDA Government in Bihar. Referring to his “BIMARU” comment for Bihar in his previous Gaya rally, Modi said this remark made Nitish so angry that he reacted “Modi hota kaun hai jo Bihar ko BIMARU kahe” and claimed that Bihar was “no more a BIMARU State”. “I wish him unke munh mein ghee shakkar and accept his claim. If Bihar is really out of this tag, I will be happier. But one whose stomach is filled does not ask for food. While you say you are not BIMARU, on the other you ask us to give this and give that. It is the pubic to decide if they need anything or they have everything,” said the PM continuing his tirade against Nitish.
Though the poll dates have not yet been announced, Modi has already launched his campaign. At the Saharsa rally, he recalled that in August 2009 when the Kosi river brought great disaster, as CM of Gujarat he had sent a cheque of Rs5 crore for the relief, but the Bihar CM whose “arrogance goes beyond seven skies” returned the cheque.
Modi also hit out at the Congress with whom Nitish now has alliance, and asked the people “who sent Jayaprakash Narayan to jail”. “Indira Gandhi during Emergency sent JP to jail and now those who claim to be JP’s disciples are sharing seats with the Congress,” he said.
The PM also quoted the data from the website of the Bihar Police to say that Jungle Raj has already returned. He said in January 2015, the number of crime cases was 13,808 which has increased to 18,500 by June. While 217 murders took place in January, the number grew to 316, and 866 riots were reported six months back which increased to 1,497. “The Bihar CM in air-conditioned room calls Press reporters and spits venom against me. As I depart he will invite the media and claim that whatever I announced today were all old things,” the PM said.
Interestingly, perhaps not wanting to upset Yadav voters, Modi on Tuesday did not make any reference to RJD chief lalu Prasad.