Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said politics had hampered the development of Bihar and promised to give more than Rs. 50,000 crore as special package to the poll-bound State.
Mr. Modi, who was in the State to kickstart the BJP’s poll campaign in Bihar, inaugurated several projects at a function attended by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and several Union Ministers.
Taking a jibe at former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mr. Modi said, “After the change in the government, the Railway Ministers that came from here halted the work and after we came to power we have again started the work. Let those who wants to do politics do it. But the people of Bihar have been hit because of it.”
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Recalling his promise of giving a special package of Rs. 50,000 crore to Bihar, Mr. Modi said he would fulfil the promise at the right time.
“Meine jo Bihar ke janata se vada kiya tha usse age bad ke nibhayun ga sahi samay par [I will deliver more than I had promised to people of Bihar at the right time],” he said.
“Looking at our dreams for a prosperous Bihar, we will give a bigger package than Rs. 50,000 crore. This is my promise. The country will progress if the eastern part of the nation progresses. The development of Bihar is our prime agenda, development of eastern India is our mission,” he said.
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Nitish Kumar poses seven questions
Quick to launch an attack, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar posed seven questions to the Prime Minister.
| 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?” |