Free Jharkhand from dynastic rule, corruption: Modi

Kicking off BJP's poll campaign in Jharkhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched an attack on the state government over the issue of development and asked the people to free the state from dynastic rule to end corruption.

"If you want Jharkhand to move on the path of development then free Jharkhand from pariwarwad (dynastic rule)," he said.

In an apparent reference to JMM supremo Shibu Soren and his Chief Minister son Hemant Soren, Modi said, "If you don't free Jharkhand from the dynastic rule, then their houses and family would get rich while the people will not benefit (from anything)".

"If you want Jharkhand to progress, want employment for youth and take the state to prosperity, you have to put an end to dynastic politics, the politics of father-son, brother- nephew and relatives," he told an election rally here.

"The state has been looted and there is corruption here. How much have they looted the state, but there is no shame," Modi said, without naming anyone.

He said development was the only solution for the growth of Jharkhand and urged people to give him a 'chance to serve them'.

Speaking about his recent visit to Australia, the Prime Minister said Jharkhand and the continent-nation have a lot of similarities with regard to their natural resources and population, while the former remained poor, the latter has grown.

"There are five rivers in the states, but farmers are languishing without water for their lands and villages are struggling for drinking water. The state is rich in terms of the natural resources, but its farmers are poor," he said and added that steps would be taken to interlink rivers for the welfare for the agrarians.

Taking a jibe at the JMM-led government, Modi said, the state government was allegedly scared of the visit of central ministers as it would expose the faults.

"They said they would not allow entry of any minister from Delhi. Even when I was (Chief Minister) in Gujarat, Delhi used to hurt us. But we did not do anything of that sort. But they know if any minister from Modi government comes, then they would unfold their corruption," he said.

He was referring to JMM publicly announcing in August that it would not allow any central minister to enter Jharkhand after the Chief Minister was hooted by the people in the presence of Modi at a function in Ranchi.