Modi announces Rs 1.25 lakh crore package for poll bound Bihar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharpens attack on 'egotistical' Nitish Kumar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised a whopping Rs 1.65 lakh crore central government economic package for poll-bound Bihar at a public meeting here on Tuesday. The quantum, which the PM said includes Rs 1.25 lakh worth of new and Rs 40,000 crore of existing projects, laid bare the huge stakes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has attached to the assembly polls in the state due in October.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar criticised the PM for holding what seemed like an auction of the state, but pointed out that several of the projects announced had already been pending with New Delhi.

The PM, within hours of returning from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), addressed two public rallies in the state. He laid the foundation stone for 11 national highway projects at an official event in Arrah and announced the economic package if the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) were to win the polls, while his speech at an NDA rally in Saharsa was devoted to rattling out statistics to show how the state is witnessing a steep increase in crime and was evidence that ‘jungle raj’ had returned to Bihar. (INCENTIVES FOR POLL-BOUND BIHAR)

The BJP leadership has made ‘return of jungle raj’ as the centrepiece of its poll campaign after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar led Janata Dal (United) aligned with Lalu Prasad headed Rashtriya Janata Dal. Modi also faulted the two leaders, without naming them, for aligning with a party, the Congress, which had during the Emergency imprisoned one of Bihar’s foremost sons Jayaprakash Narayan. During his Saharsa speech, Modi largely spared Prasad. He focused his attack on the “egotistical” Kumar. The Bihar CM had gone to receive the PM at the airport in Arrah but was absent from the dais at the official function.

That Modi will announce a substantial economic package for Bihar was much anticipated, but few had expected the quantum to be as large. “I am here today to fulfil my promise to you. I am announcing a special package for Bihar. Should it be Rs 50,000 crore or Rs 60,000 crore, Rs 70,000 crore, Rs 80,000 crore, Rs 90,000 crore? Today, I promise Rs 1.25 lakh crore. I promise to you that this promise will be implemented. Now give me your blessings to change the fate of Bihar,” he said. (See chart for breakup of projects and money allocated)

Later in the day, Kumar hit back at the PM. The Bihar CM said Modi had nothing but contempt for those seeking their rights from the Centre. He said the way the PM announced the package made it look as if he was holding an auction of Bihar with bids being made. Kumar said

Modi went against the spirit of cooperative federalism. “There is nothing new. They had to give it. They are not doing any favour,” Kumar said, pointing out several projects were already pending the Centre’s approval.

At Saharsa, Modi ridiculed the Bihar CM for bristling at his statement that Bihar was a bimaru state and also for not being able to spend earlier economic packages given to Bihar. “I am surprised that he says Bihar is not bimaru (sick) but keeps asking for something or the other (from the Centre),” Modi said. He said Kumar pleaded with the UPA government for a package but received a pittance Rs 12,000 crore. In the past few weeks, the Bihar CM has attacked Modi for his failure to deliver on his promise of a special package to Bihar.

The PM also highlighted the contribution of newly appointed Bihar Governor Ramnath Kovind, a Dalit, to the welfare of socially and economically backward castes. He also brought up Kumar’s betrayal of the BJP when he severed ties with the party in 2013 just as Modi was set to be elected the prime ministerial candidate of the NDA.