Swabhiman rally: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Sonia Gandhi, Lalu Prasad launch united attack on PM Modi

PATNA: Showing their strength and unity at an impressive ‘Swabhiman rally’ in Patna on Sunday, grand alliance partners — AICC president Sonia Gandhi, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar of JD(U), RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh’s younger brother Shivpal Singh Yadav jointly launched their campaign for upcoming assembly elections by targeting PM Narendra Modi and the BJP. While referring to PM Modi’s DNA remark against Kumar, Gandhi said some people “take pleasure in mocking Bihar”.

Gandhi targeted PM Modi for his alleged silence on the deaths of several Army and paramilitary jawans in the firing from across the border. “He (PM Modi) used to challenge Pakistan. I want to ask Modi what is his Pakistan policy?” Gandhi told the gathering.

Kumar’s speech was mainly focussed on Modi’s DNA remark and Bihar package of Rs 1.25 lakh crore. He said: “Today is a historic day as Centre has bowed down (ghutane tekne pade) over the issue of land acquisition bill.” He said people were misled by the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. “I have exposed him on the special package for Bihar. 87% of the package is old. It’s a repackaging of old schemes.”

The RJD chief apparently played caste card by saying that two sons of backward castes have joined hands and BJP terms it as “Jungle Raj”. He said the BJP was targeting “Yaduvanshi”. SP leader and UP minister Shivpal Singh Yadav said he was part of the rally to present a united face.