Only NDA can develop Bihar, foil jungle raj: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said only the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance could ensure Bihar's development, and cautioned the people against the return of 'jungle raj' if the JD-U-RJD alliance won in the upcoming state assembly polls.

Addressing a gathering of about 50,000 people in Gandhi Maidan here, Modi attacked Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Nitish Kumar and his ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad.

He repeatedly reminded people of the likely return of 'jungle raj' if Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was not voted to power in the state assembly polls.

Modi urged people to bring the BJP-led alliance to power in Bihar for the state's development and to prevent the return of 'jungle raj'.

He said people should use the upcoming polls as an opportunity to "free themselves from the jungle raj" by voting for the NDA. "You have suffered their arrogance, deceit and exploitation for the last 25 years. Do you want such a rule to continue for another five years?"

"I am here to appeal to you to vote for us to develop Bihar and to stop a return of the jungle raj. I am confident of getting the blessings from the people for a change," Modi said.

He warned the electors that "jungle raj-II" would prevail in Bihar if his BJP-led alliance was not voted to power. "There is a strong possibility of destruction and disaster if jungle raj part-II returns to Bihar."

He cited murder of a BJP worker in Patna a few days ago as an example of the likely return of 'jungle raj'.

Blaming the years of rule of RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi for Bihar's backwardness and under-development, he said: "When they ruled the state, hardly any development took place."

Recalling that he had once described the RJD as "Rozana Jungleraj ka Darr", Modi on Sunday called the JD-U "Janata Ka Daman Aur Utpidan".

The prime minister promised that if the NDA came to power, Bihar would rid itself of the 'Bimaru' tag. "We will take Bihar out of 'Bimaru' tag in the next five years by economic development like in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan."

Observing that Nitish Kumar's JD-U's alliance with Lalu Prasad's RJD was only for political requirement sake, he said: "This alliance will not last after the polls."

The prime minister also promised to develop Bodh Gaya, considered the birth place of Buddhism, as a top tourist destination to draw tourists from around the world. "It will create more jobs and increase the earning of local people in Gaya."

He also said that if the BJP-led NDA was voted to power in Bihar, the famous Vishnupad temple in Gaya town would be developed for the thousands of visiting pilgrims.

It was Modi's second public rally in Bihar after one at Muzaffarpur last month when he kickstarted the BJP campaign for the upcoming state assembly polls.

According to police officials, nearly 5,000 security force personnel were deployed for the rally.