Targeting the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister and BJP chief J P Nadda Saturday said the party would bring back the “jungle raj” while the “Modi-Nitish” combine would develop the state.
Prevented by bad weather, Shah virtually addressed rallies in Gopalganj and Samastipur districts, and Vaishali district’s Hajipur, the parliamentary constituency of Union Minister Chirag Paswan.
In Gopalganj, the native district of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, he raked up the “high-handedness” of Sadhu Yadav, former CM Rabri Devi’s estranged brother, to warn people that “jungle raj” will come back if the party comes to power. “This election is an opportunity to decide who should be entrusted with the future of Bihar. On the one hand are those who ushered in ‘jungle raj’. On the other hand is the duo of PM Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar, who have brought development,” he said.
“The people of Gopalganj have never voted for RJD since 2002. I am sure they will continue the trend… Nobody knows misdeeds (kaarnaame) of Sadhu Yadav better than the people of Gopalganj,” he said.
On the promises made by NDA in the manifesto released a day earlier, Shah said, “There are two major things in the manifesto—one for farmers and one for women. Recently, Nitish Kumar and PM Modi have deposited Rs 10,000 into the accounts of 1.41 crore Jeevika Didis. They will send up to 2 lakh to all Jeevika Didi in different ways. Second, we give Rs 6,000 per year to 27 lakh farmers of Bihar. Now, we will add Rs 3,000 to this and give Rs 9,000,” he said.
Addressing a rally in Samastipur, Shah slammed Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, alleging that he “tried to protect infiltrators” by leading the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’. “Let Rahul Gandhi take out as many yatras as he wants. Each and every infiltrator will be driven out of the country. The SIR was aimed at that, and we welcome the Election Commission’s decision to carry out the exercise across the country,” he said.
Addressing another rally in Hajipur, he alleged Congress has always insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar and denied him the Bharat Ratna while in power.
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Nadda, also addressing rallies in Siwan and Muzaffarpur virtually, alleged that kidnapping had become an industry during ‘jungle raj’ (lawlessness) and “ransom used to be settled at the then CM’s house”. “Bihar witnessed ‘jungle raj’ under RJD regime. There was complete anarchy… and along with that, an industry of kidnapping started,” he alleged.
“Siwan had witnessed the terror of Shahabuddin, and once again, RJD nominated his son (Osama Shahab) in Assembly polls. Lalu Prasad’s party wants to bring ‘jungle raj’ back,” he alleged, adding that RJD “culture and its DNA” have not changed.
“I want you to recall Lalu Prasad’s ‘jungle raj’. Remember it forever, and only then will you be able to appreciate and realise the importance of CM Nitish Kumar’s development works,” he said. “Kidnapping of doctors and engineers was normal in those days. After 2005, Bihar gained momentum in terms of development… Now need is to give a new stability to NDA government,” he said.
