Biharis ‘most intelligent’, says Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with NDA leaders Ramvilas Paswan, Upendra Kushwaha and Jitan Ram Manjhi at the 'Parivartan rally' in Bhagalpur. Photo: Ranjeet Kumar

Under fierce attack for >his DNA jibe against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar that has been turned into a major electoral weapon against him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday sought to make amends, calling Biharis the “most intelligent” people.

He also charged Mr. Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad with “sacrificing” the legacy of towering socialist leaders such as Ram Manohar Lohia and Jayaprakash Narayan by sharing platform with Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Addressing the last of BJP’s ‘Parivartan’ rallies in the election-bound state before the poll schedule is announced, Mr. Modi launched a blistering attack on his RJD-JD(U) rivals, charging them with spreading the “poison of casteism and communalism” during their 25-year rule.

In the rally, billed as the BJP’s counter to the impressive ‘

>Swabhiman Rally ’ of the newly formed ‘Grand Secular Alliance’, which was attended by Sonia Gandhi, besides Mr. Kumar, Mr. Prasad and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s brother Shivpal, Mr. Modi claimed credit for making development an agenda in the state elections for the first time.

“After 25 years, people of Bihar have decided to vote for development and form a government for development. Nobody can stop this (NDA’s) victory march irrespective of how many parties and leaders come together against us.

“Two days back there was a sacrificial meeting in Gandhi Maidan in which JP, Lohia and Karpuri Thakur were sacrificed.

“Lohia fought against Congress but his disciples have now betrayed him for their lust for power. They have joined hands with those (Congress) who put JP in jail,” Mr. Modi said, asking people to “sacrifice” such people by voting them out.

Mr. Modi, facing sustained criticism by Mr. Kumar and Mr. Prasad for his DNA dig at the Bihar Chief Minister, lavished praise on the people of the state, saying the “most intelligent people live in Bihar.”

The Prime Minister, who had earlier >announced a Rs 1.25 lakh crore package for the State , referred to Mr. Kumar’s sop of Rs 2.7 lakh crore, and claimed that the Bihar Chief Minister was forced to do so after he made development a major poll plank.

“They ridiculed my package but realised in two-three days that people have seen through their game. So they were forced to announce their own development package. I am very happy that development has become a poll issue in Bihar,” he said.