Stepping up his attack on the Bihar government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday questioned the claims of development by the ruling JD(U) saying if it had indeed taken place why were people migrating from the State in search of jobs.
“If Bihar is at all shining, then why are people migrating to Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana and New Delhi? Why are people from Mumbai not coming to Bihar?” Mr. Gandhi questioned during election rallies at Bachwara and Jamalpur in Munger district.
“Bihar and India can’t shine unless poverty is thoroughly eradicated and there is employment, drinking water, better health, electricity and education facilities for all,” he said.
“Have you received jobs?” Mr. Gandhi asked alleging that the State had failed to achieve the desired targets under MNREGA and other central schemes while there were “irregularities” in their implementation.
Mr. Gandhi also questioned the secular credentials of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and claimed that he did not do much following the riots in Gujarat when he was a minister in the erstwhile NDA government.
The Amethi MP alleged that both Nitish Kumar and RJD president Lalu Prasad were equally responsible for the state of affairs in Bihar during the past 20 years.
“Now the time has come to free the state from the politics of caste and religion pursued by Lalu Prasad and Nitish and ensure all-round growth of Bihar,” he said.
India would further develop if Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were brought to the category of most developed States, he said.
