Nitish, Sonia & Lalu launch blistering attack on Modi

In hard-hitting speeches, the leaders raised the issue of Bihari pride and said the people would give a befitting reply to Modi as he had “denigrated the legacy of the state” with his DNA remark.

Gandhi alleged that the Modi government had done nothing other than “show-<g data-gr-id="44">baazi</g>”, despite completing one-fourth of its tenure. Kumar said Modi had remembered Bihar only after 14 months as elections are due in the state.

The leaders, who shared the <g data-gr-id="48">dias</g> at the Swabhiman (Honour) rally in Patna, in a show of unity, praised each other, forgetting their past rancour. “Some people take pleasure in mocking Bihar. Whenever they get an opportunity, they comment about its DNA and culture. They also call it BIMARU,” Gandhi said, targeting at Modi.

Demanding that Modi took back his DNA remark, Kumar said: “This is the place from where Gautam Buddha, Mahavir and Aryabhatta came... My DNA is the same DNA.” “Today when ‘Swabhiman rally’ is being organised in Patna, the PM was forced to bend and retreat his steps on the Land Acquisition Bill,” he said.

Countering Modi’s comment that the JD(U)-RJD alliance would bring ‘Jungle Raaj-2’, Prasad termed the JD(U)-RJD-<g data-gr-id="45">Cong-SP</g> coalition as ‘Mangal Raaj Part-2’. The RJD chief said the BJP wanted to “create tension between Hindu and Muslim. I know their design. Modi called us ‘Jungle-<g data-gr-id="46">Raaj</g> Part-2’ but this is Mangal Raaj Part-2,” he said.

Kumar said: “No jungle raj is coming, it’s only that poor and the deprived have awakened to their rights, which the BJP is calling jungle raj.” 

Describing the Modi government as ‘anti-farmer and anti-youth’ at the rally, Gandhi said that in 14 months of its tenure, the Union government has virtually acted “opposite to what it had promised before the elections.” Kumar displayed bonhomie with “Bade Bhai” (Lalu Prasad) and rubbished BJP’s accusation of a return of “jungle raj” due to RJD’s entry. 

Speaking of ‘Mandal Raj-II’, the RJD chief said: “I and Nitish Kumar are two sons of backward castes. After Lalu, it is Nitish Kumar.”  

“Laluji till date has not told me either to free any arrested person or recommend any unlawful work... I am saying this with full responsibility,” the Bihar CM said.

After Sonia Gandhi shared dais with Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar at the rally, BJP hit back saying that the “promoters of politics of family rule, opportunism and corruption” have come together to target it and accused the Congress chief of telling “lies” to attack the Centre .

As Gandhi attacked the Modi government over “diluting” MNREGA and its Pakistan policy, the BJP said the whole world had acknowledged India’s tough stand on terrorism, but she spoke “lies”, while her son and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi went to the border to question the Centre instead of Pakistan.

“The promoters of family rule, opportunism and corruption were today at one platform... Sonia Gandhi, you should have shown some shame. You told lies on Pakistan,” Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

Under the BJP government, allocation to MNREGA had been increased by Rs 5000 crore and it was not diluted as alleged by Gandhi, he said.