Politics hampered development of Bihar: PM Modi

Modi is currently in Bihar to kick-start his party's poll campaign where assembly elections are due later this year

On his maiden visit to Bihar after assuming power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said politics had hampered the development of the state and promised to give more than Rs 50,000 crore special package to the poll-bound state at the right time.

Modi, who was in the state to kick-start his party's poll campaign for Bihar where assembly elections are due later this year, inaugurated several projects at a function attended by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and several Union Ministers.

Referring to Chief Minister's statement that the 38 km railway line from Daniyawan-Biharsharif could have been completed had polls in 2004 not taken place six months ahead of the tenure of the NDA government ended, he said, "I agree with Nitishji that politics had hindered development creating great loss."

Taking a jibe at former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Modi said, "After the change in the government, the railway ministers that came from here halted the work and after we came to power we have again started the work. Let those who wants to do politics do it. But the people of Bihar have been hit because of it."

Recalling his promise of giving a special package of Rs 50,000 crore to Bihar during the campaign for Parliamentary election, he said he would fulfil the promise at the right time.

"Meine jo Bihar ke janata se vada kiya tha usse age bad ke nibhayun ga sahi samay par (I'll deliver more than I had promised to people of Bihar at the right time)," he said.

"Looking at our dreams for a prosperous Bihar, we will give a bigger package than Rs 50,000 crore. This is my promise. The country will progress if the eastern part of the nation progress. The development of Bihar is our prime agenda, development of eastern India is our mission," he said.