‘Parivaar Ka Saath, Parivaar Ka Vikas’: PM’s Stinging Jibe at RJD-Congress in Bihar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a blistering attack on the RJD-Congress alliance in Bihar, accusing them of promoting dynastic politics and plunging the state into an era of “jungle raj.” Addressing a massive rally in the RJD stronghold of Siwan, the Prime Minister framed the upcoming assembly election as a choice between development for all and the progress of a select few families.
“We say ‘Sabka saath, sabka vikas’ (Together with all, development for all), but the RJD and Congress believe in ‘parivaar ka saath, parivaar ka vikas’ (Together with family, development for the family),” PM Modi declared. “Congress’s licence raj was responsible for poverty in India. While families of its leaders became rich, the people remained poor.”
The Prime Minister’s visit, his fifth to the state in as many months, is seen as a major push by the BJP-JD(U) alliance to consolidate its position ahead of the state elections due later this year. During the event, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for a slew of development projects worth nearly Rs 10,000 crore, including a new Vande Bharat Express connecting Patliputra and Gorakhpur.
Targeting the RJD over past governance, Modi warned voters to be cautious of those who brought “jungle raj” and “gunda raj” (rule of thugs) to Bihar. “The ‘panja’ (Congress symbol) and ‘lantern’ (RJD symbol) together have hurt the pride of Bihar. They looted so much that poverty became Bihar’s misfortune,” he said, blaming them for the large-scale migration of labour from the state.
In a specific outreach to the Dalit community, which constitutes a significant vote bank, the Prime Minister raked up the recent controversy over alleged disrespect shown to a portrait of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar by RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. “RJD insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar, the people of Bihar will never forgive its leaders,” PM Modi asserted.
The Prime Minister’s visit had drawn a sharp response from the opposition even before he landed. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, in an open letter, accused the PM of breaking “all records of deception” with “jumla-filled” rallies and challenged him to answer for Bihar’s poor ranking on key development indices despite years of NDA rule.
