As Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Bihar to kick-start his party’s campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar came out with all guns blazing on Twitter, raising seven key questions related to the promises made by Mr. Modi during the Lok Sabha campaign in the State.
“We’re grateful after 14 months Modiji finds time to visit Bihar. As we get ready to hear more promises what about his old ones?" Mr. Kumar asked. “I am raising 7 critical issues – 2 specific to Bihar and 5 that in my view people across India want to hear from the Prime Minister,” he added before listing the queries. “You promised special status for Bihar. 14 months and people are still waiting,” the Chief Minister said.
“With the 14th Finance Commission report and withdrawal of BRGF (Backward Regional Grant Fund), Bihar to lose Rs. 50,000 crore in five years. Is this your cooperative federalism?” he asked.
On national issues
Turning to national issues, Mr. Kumar attacked Mr. Modi for his party’s pre-election claim that it will bring back black money stashed abroad and give each poor household Rs.15-20 lakh. “People are awaiting to get their Rs.15-20 lakh from the black money you promised to bring back from abroad. Could we hear something on this?” he asked.
He then took on the government for its alleged anti-farmer policies. “First U-turn on MSP, then your apathy towards farmers' distress and finally your new land bill. Is this what you promised to farmers?”
Referring to the government’s recently approved policy for rehabilitation of all slum dwellers by 2022, Mr. Kumar questioned whether the government had a plan to actually achieve this. “By 2022 you have promised house for everybody with facility of electricity and water. How would this be fulfilled without allocation of fund or any plan so far?” he asked.
Mr. Kumar was also quick to respond to Mr. Modi’s jibe on the Chief Minister’s “political DNA” during his speech in Muzaffarpur on Sunday. “I was hurt when he [Nitish Kumar] withdrew his support. But when he did the same thing to a Mahadalit such as Jitan Manjhi, then I figured out that something is wrong with his political DNA,” Mr. Modi said, referring to the JD(U)’s split with the BJP in 2013.
In reply, Mr. Kumar tweeted: “I am a son of Bihar and my DNA is the same as the people of Bihar. I leave it to the people of Bihar to answer someone who says their DNA is bad.”
| 1 | “We’re grateful after 14 months Modi ji finds time to visit Bihar. As we get ready to hear more promises what about the old ones?” |
| 2 | “You promised Special Status for Bihar. 14 months and people are still waiting.” |
| 3 | “With the14th Finance Commission report and withdrawal of BRGF (Backward Regional Grant Fund), Bihar [is set to] to lose Rs. 50,000 crore in five years. Is this your cooperative federalism?” |
| 4 | “People are awaiting to get their Rs 15-20 lakh from the blackmoney you promised to bring back from abroad. Could we hear something on this?” |
| 5 | “First U-turn on MSP, then your apathy towards farmers’ distress and finally your new Land Bill. Is this what you promised to farmers?” |
| 6 | “By 2022 you have promised house for everybody with facility of electricity and water. How would be fulfilled without allocation of fund or any plan so far?" |
| 7 | “You started Jan Dhan scheme to make people believe that it’s not only a bank account, but it’s opening [their] fortune. Today more than 70 per cent accounts are ineffective. Nobody knows how poor would be benefited from such bank accounts?” |
