Modi in Bihar says Opposition focused on corruption, not on connectivity

During the second round of campaigning in Bihar and on the day of the first phase of polling in the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Opposition Grand Alliance led by RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav of corruption in major development schemes. “Their focus was always on commission and not on connectivity,” he said on Wednesday (October 28) while addressing a rally in Darbhanga in the state’s Mithilanchal region.

“Kosi Mahasetu was inaugurated a few days ago. Facilities such as these help farmers, businessmen, students etc cover long distanced in less time. This helps in increasing employment and aides in development of the state,” he said.

The Centre had sanctioned the 1.9 km Kosi Mega bridge line project in 2003-04. The project is of strategic importance along the India-Nepal border. An amount of ₹516 crore has been spent on the bridge’s construction. The work on the project continued during the COVID-19 pandemic and migrant labourers also participated in its completion.

Modi said the mantra of opposition parties when they were in power was ‘paisa hajam, project khatam’ (money finished, project over). “They loved commission so much that they never paid attention to connectivity. You know very well what happened to Kosi Mahasetu, which connected Mithilanchal,” Modi said.

The PM also congratulated the people of Bihar for the Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya. “I congratulate the people of mother Sita’s land for the Ram temple,” he said, adding that the government’s objective was to fulfill all promises.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is also the JD-U head, accompanied the PM at Darbhanga. He welcomed the PM to the state and said he was grateful for the steps taken by him to curb the spread of COVID-19 and for the trains run to and from Bihar for the states’ migrant workers. “The COVID-19 recovery rate in Bihar is over 95% because of these steps,” he said.

He also thanked the PM for his decision to establish All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Darbhanga.

The PM will address another set of rallies on November 1 in Chapra, East Champaran, and Samastipur. His last set of rallies will be on November 3, when he will speak at public meetings in West Champaran, Saharsa, and Forbesganj.

As many as 71 constituencies out of the total 243 in Bihar went to vote on Wednesday. The opposition comprising the RJD, Congress, CPI, CPI(M), and CPI(ML) will take on the ruling NDA alliance consisting of JD(U), BJP, Vikassheel Insaan Party, and Hindustani Awam Morcha.