‘RJD, Cong in favour of infiltrators, dislike Lord Ram due to vote bank’

Bhagalpur/Araria: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday charged the opposition RJD-Congress combine in Bihar with having a soft corner for infiltrators, but “dislike” for Lord Ram and ‘Chhathi Maiya’ because of vote bank politics.

Addressing back-to-back rallies in Bhagalpur and Araria districts, Modi also alleged that the reluctance of opposition leaders to visit Ayodhya to have ‘darshan’ of shrines dedicated to Nishad Raj, Mata Shabri and Maharshi Valmiki was indicative of their “hatred” for Dalits and backward classes.

“Bihar saw zero development during the 15 years of ‘jungle raj’. No highways and bridges were built, nor any centres of higher learning were set up. The NDA under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has worked very hard to bring the state out of that era,” he said.

“Today, Bihar has so many expressways, bridges over rivers, as many as four central universities and other centres of higher learning. Only the NDA can ensure that this journey towards growth continues uninterrupted,” he added.

Modi said the NDA faces a big challenge on this journey of growth, which is the menace of infiltration. “The NDA is committed to driving out each and every infiltrator from the country. But the Congress-RJD offer them protection, take out political yatras in their favour and come up with misleading narratives,” alleged the PM in an indirect reference to Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ and allegations of “vote theft”.

“Whenever the RJD-Congress achieve power, they try to give back-door entry to infiltrators. They do so because of vote bank politics. But this takes a toll on the people of this country. The infiltrators claim a share in all that belongs to the citizens,” he added.

Modi also said vote bank politics has filled the opposition leaders with contempt for traditions. “The naamdaar of Congress (Gandhi) called the devotion to Chhathi Maiya a drama. They never visit Ayodhya to have a darshan of Lord Ram,” he said. “I understand their dislike for Lord Ram. But they can at least pay obeisance at the shrines dedicated to Nishad Raj, Shabri Mata and Maharshi Valmiki. Their reluctance to do so only indicates their hatred for Dalits and backward classes,” he alleged.

“I have seen wonderful pictures of voters turning up in large numbers at polling booths. The enthusiasm is visible among the young and the old alike,” he said. Modi also expressed happiness that women, in particular, were exercising their right to vote with gusto, and said that “our mothers, sisters and daughters have created a veritable fortress at polling booths, to thwart the return of jungle raj”.