Modi accuses Congress, RJD of 'insulting faith'

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Thursday at BJP rallies in Bihar that the Centre is trying to get Chhath into the UNESCO heritage list even as he charged RJD-Congress with insulting the festival, fearing their vote bank will be antagonised. He further said leaders of the two parties have avoided a visit to the grand Ram temple as they feel the 'infiltrators' will get angry.

Modi addressed BJP rallies in Muzaffarpur and Chhapra on Thursday, his first after the conclusion of Chhath festival in Bihar.

"We are also going to start another campaign- to organize a competition among artists and singers of Chhath songs across the country and in different languages. The people will decide which songs they like most. The top singers will be felicitated before the next Chhath puja... I heard Chhath songs sung by foreigners and a woman from Nagaland," Modi said.


He alleged RJD and Congress do not have any reverence for Chhath and the festivities, including these songs.

Attacking RJD and Congress on the issue of corruption and misgovernance, Modi insisted their rule can be defined through five words.

"Congress and RJD have ruled Bihar for years, but they have only betrayed you. The deeds of Congress and RJD can be recognized by four words- katta (country-made gun), cruelty, acrimony, misgovernance and corruption. Have these words not become a mark of these parties?" Modi said.

Sharing data of people spending during the festivals and the GST rate cuts, the prime minister said: "This time 1.5 Lakh (50,000) motorcycles have been sold. This was not possible during 'jungle raj'. Then even the showrooms were closed not because of weak sale but because RJD goons would loot the showrooms...," he said.