Parivaar ka saath, parivaar ka vikas: PM’s jibe at RJD-Congress in Bihar

Challenging the RJD-Congress alliance regarding dynastic politics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Friday that those longing for power concentrate exclusively on advancing their own families, while his administration aimed for inclusive progress.

During a rally in Bihar’s Siwan, where he inaugurated development projects valued at Rs 10,000 crore, PM Modi urged the crowd to remove those responsible for ‘jungle raj’ in Bihar and who have plundered the state in the forthcoming elections.

“We say ‘Sabka saath, sabka vikas’ but the RJD and Congress believe in ‘parivaar ka saath, parivaar ka vikas’. Congress’s licence raj responsible for poverty in India. While families of its leaders became rich, people remained poor,” the Prime Minister thundered.

The Prime Minister stated that the Dalit and backward communities suffered the most from this. PM Modi’s comments appeared to be an attempt to counter RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s accusation of nepotism against the governing coalition. Tejashwi has consistently highlighted the appointments of relatives of various NDA leaders to different commissions in Bihar.

Focusing on the RJD regarding the recent uproar over supposed disrespect to BR Ambedkar’s portrait by Lalu Prasad Yadav, PM Modi claimed that the citizens of Bihar would never pardon those who disrespected the creator of the Constitution.

This marks PM Modi’s fifth trip to Bihar in the last five months as the BJP-JD(U) alliance seeks to maintain control in its direct battle with the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan. Siwan along with its surrounding areas like Gopalganj and Chapra are strongholds of the RJD.

“RJD insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar, people of Bihar will never forgive its leaders,” PM Modi said, as he attempted to woo the nearly 20% Dalit population.

Calling the RJD-Congress combine “anti-Bihar” and “anti-investment”, PM Modi said the parties looted so much that poverty became Bihar’s misfortune.

“Whenever they talk about development, people see locks hanging on shops, businesses, industries and trades… These people have been the nurturers of poor infrastructure, mafia raj, gunda raj, and corruption,” the Prime Minister thundered.

The fact that Bihar has the highest number of inter-state migrants was also raked up by PM Modi, who blamed the previous RJD governments for it.

“The Congress and RJD are responsible for poverty and the migration of labourers from Bihar. The ‘panja’ and ‘lantern’ together have hurt the pride of Bihar. Those who brought ‘jungle raj’ to Bihar are looking for an opportunity to repeat their old deeds somehow. You have to be very cautious for the bright future of your children,” he further said.