26 July,2015 07:45 AM IST | | Agencies
Narendra Modi also announces a slew of packages in the poll-bound state
Muzaffarpur/Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday denounced Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, only hours after sharing a stage with him, and RJD leader Lalu Prasad as he formally kick-started the NDA's campaign for the Bihar assembly polls.
Narendra Modi with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at Patna airport. Pic/PTI
Urging the thousands gathered at Chakkar Maidan in Muzaffarpur not to bring back "jungle raj" in Bihar, Modi bracketed Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad as he sought support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies. Modi hit out at the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader for the state's backwardness.
"I was not the only one to be backstabbed by him. The people of Bihar were also backstabbed," he thundered at the rally, referring to the chief minister's decision to leave the National Democratic Alliance after Modi was picked to head the BJP for the 2014 parliamentary battle.
However, Kumar lost no time in hitting back at Modi, accusing him of not honouring promises made for development of the state. He held a press conference at his residence after seeing Modi off at Patna airport.
At the rally, Modi also launched a number of government schemes and promised the people of the state a package bigger than the amount of Rs 50,000 crore.
"When I came before the Lok Sabha elections, I had announced that we will give Bihar a special package of Rs 50,000 crore. Looking at our dreams for a prosperous Bihar, we will give a bigger package than Rs 50,000 cr. This is my promise," he said.
"Nitishji said he has high hopes from our government, we are working towards fulfilling the states' needs by increasing allocation to states. The development of Bihar is our prime agenda, development of eastern India is our mission," he added.
