Amit Shah sounds bugle for Bihar election

Mr. Shah said “about 1 crore people of the country have been benefitted from Ayushman Bharat scheme.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. File

BJP leader Amit Shah on Sunday said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would get two-thirds majority in the coming Assembly elections in Bihar.

While addressing a virtual rally, ‘Bihar - Jansamvad’, though Mr. Shah claimed that it was not a ‘poll rally’, he concluded his 45-minute speech listing the achievements of both tenures of the Narendra Modi government and its contribution for the development of Bihar.

Slugfest over Amit Shah’s Bihar ‘virtual rally’

“This virtual rally has nothing to do with upcoming elections in Bihar. The BJP believed in democracy … this is to encourage everyone and reassure the confidence in corona warriors … here I want to salute those crores of corona warriors battling against the virus by risking their lives ... I want to acknowledge their contribution,” the Union Home Minister said.

Slams RJD

Mr. Shah took jibe at the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal for clanking plates and bowls ahead of his virtual rally. “I am glad that they finally followed Mr. Modi’s appeal to show gratitude to those fighting against coronavirus,” he said. Earlier in the day, RJD leaders observed ‘Garib Adhikar Diwas’ by beating plates and bowls in protest of Mr. Shah’s rally.

Mr. Shah mostly spoke about politics and slammed the opposition parties for doing ‘nothing for the development of Bihar’. “The Modi government has given ₹20 lakh crore following corona pandemic for the development of the country and Bihar too will be benefited with this,” he said.

“Earlier when the Modi government had allocated ₹1.25 lakh crore for Bihar’s development, Opposition party leaders had made mockery of it but here I will cite you the facts where the money was spent,” said Mr. Shah and dwelt upon the details. “Bihar has been the land where first Republic was formed and where great leaders were born … the people of Bihar had also voted Modi ji to power first in 2014 and in second term also … it is because you voted Modi ji to power not only Bihar but all eastern India now has set off its journey to development,” Mr. Shah said.

He also mentioned about the removal of Articles 370 and 35 A, abolition of triple talaq, surgical strike, and process for construction of the Ram temple, Ayushman Bharat, availability of LED bulbs and cylinder gas to crores of households as achievements of the Modi government.

“It is because of Prime Minister Modi, India’s position in world today has been recognised and respected,” he added. He also mentioned about the success of Mr. Modi’s appeal for janata curfew. “Janata curfew will be listed in the country’s golden history for following a leader's appeal ... after former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri I have not seen a leader other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi on whose appeal the whole country got united,” he said.

Thanks Nitish

Concluding his speech, Mr. Shah thanked Bihar Chief Minister Mr. Nitish Kumar and BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi for taking every step to battle the coronavirus. “The Bihar government spent ₹8,538 crore in fighting against coronavirus and took every step for taking care of migrants and workers returning to the State,” Mr. Shah said. He asserted that, “Under Nitish Kumar’s leadership, the NDA will come to power with two-thirds majority in the coming elections in Bihar.”

The State BJP had earlier announced that Mr. Shah would be addressing nearly 5 lakh people through his virtual rally from seven-member booth level committee members at all 72,725 booths, 1,100 mandals, 9,000 shakti kendras and members in all 45 organisational districts of the party.

Earlier, RJD and Youth Congress protested against Mr. Shah’s virtual rally. State Youth Congress leaders released black balloons in protest. “The BJP is the first party in the world which will be celebrating the death of poor people and migrants … they [the BJP] should have to digitally reach out to these poor migrant people, instead of organising digital rally to win elections,” RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav told journalists after clanking plates and bowls for few minutes.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nitish Kumar too set off his “digital” interaction with party leaders and workers of different districts on Sunday.