PM Modi: Governments of last 25 years should give account of what they did for Bihar growth

BHAGALPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi focused on development issues and avoided references to caste politics in his 45-minute speech at his fourth ‘Parivaratan Rally’ held in Bhagalpur city on Tuesday, which saw a good contingent of youth.

Modi targeted Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and his government on the poor health facilities and electricity supply in Bihar.

He asked voters to seek an account from those who administered the state in the last 25 years. BJP was an alliance partner of the Nitish government from 2005-2013.

“Those who ruled the state for 25 years are not ready to give account of their works they did for Bihar in this period. Lok Sabha elections will be held in 2019. I will again come to seek your vote and give accounts of every penny,” Modi said.

“They shared dais with those against whom Ram Manohar Lohia, Jayprakash Narayan and Karpoori Thakur fought,” Modi indirectly referred to the presence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi at the Swabhiman Rally.

“It was the Congress that imprisoned JP. It resulted in his health deteriorating and he could not recover from it,” he said in an apparent bid to revive ‘anti-Congressism.’

Modi attempted to counter allegations of the grand alliance on the special package. “Those who criticise me for Rs 1.25 lakh crore special package for Bihar, are forced to bring a package of Rs 2.70 lakh crore,” Modi told the gathering that the campaign was now in the right direction and that he was glad that the assembly polls were now fought on the issue of development.

Modi compared the growing number of community health centres in Rajasthan, MP and Chhattisgarh with Bihar. He said the number of community health centres in Bihar decreased from 101 to 70.

He blamed the Bihar government for not sending documents relating to its backward districts to the Centre on time for proper development.