Ara, Aug. 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today shook a cocktail of blandishments at voters in caste-ridden Bihar that blended some dodgy economics and astute politics with the élan of a sharp-eyed conjurer. Modi also made it clear that the Rs 1.25 lakh crore package will be in addition to the ongoing development projects worth Rs 40657 crore, announced previously. Now you give me your blessings to change the fate of Bihar…
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Also, alleging the JD-U government of not utilizing funds for the development of rural areas in the state, Mishra said, “This shows that the real objective of getting special status is not development”. Shortly after Modi ended his campaign speech attended by thousands at Ara town, Nitish Kumar accused the Prime minister of spreading falsehood and insisted the money was Bihar’s right and not a favour.
Calling it a “pre-election bribery”, Janata Dal (U) is likely to complain to Election Commission against Modi’s announcement of Rs 1.25 lakh crore package for Bihar. Some months back, the Prime Minister had called me a naxal. 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.
With the assembly election in Bihar to be announced in a few weeks, CM Nitish Kumar is all set to share the stage with his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal. What else will we do? It’s very contradictory. I am willing to plead with the Centre for the cause of Bihar.
He said for India to progress, the eastern part of the country has to move forward. Does cooperative federalism mean that other states will stand up and cheer when one particular state is showered with central funds that could well have been distributed among all states? “What kind of cooperative federalism is this?” he said. But instead he did a press conference to run it down. “I am prepared to become a “yachak” (seeker) for the cause of the state”, Kumar said in a bid to slam the PM for barbs against him at Arrah function. “There is nothing new”.
Was PM bidding for Bihar? “While one seeks to strengthen the ACB, the other weakens it”, he said and asked the migrants from Bihar to tell their kin about it.
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“The 15-year rule of RJD in Bihar (was) full of crime and corruption and 10-year rule of Congress-led UPA at the Centre marked with 2G, coal scam and Commonwealth game scam.being in league with these parties, on what basis you are weaving dream of good governance in Bihar?”
