Andalib Akhter / Anwarul Hoda
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and host of other leaders of Grand alliance today came down heavely on Prime minister Narendra Modi and BJP ‘anti people’ policy at a massive Swabhiman rally in Patna.
They rediculed prime minister over his so many promises including return of Black Money terming them as mere ‘Jumala’.
Nitish Kumar and Sonia Gandhi particularly targeted Prime Minister on land acquisition bill, saying he has been forced to bow “to the will of the people”.
“The roll-back of the anti-farmer land bill is not PM Modi’s Mann ki Baat, it is the nation’s Mann ki Baat,” Mr Kumar said, taking a dig at PM Modi’s comments this morning on his monthly radio programme during which he said he was allowing the bill to lapse.
Lalu smartly played Mandal Card at Swabhiman rally
The Prime Minister, Mr Kumar said, did not get the support of the legislature or the people and “today he finally had to give in”.
Calling the government “anti-farmer” Mrs Gandhi, who addressed the rally before Mr Kumar, said, “It snatches land from farmers to divide it among its handful of rich cronies”. The government has finished one fourth of its time but has done nothing except “showbaazi,” she added.
The two leaders were sharing stage today with RJD chief Lalu Prasad at the rally, which was attended by tens of thousands of people.
Sonia Gandhi appealed people of Bihar to reject divisive policy of BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and elect a secular government under leadership of Nitish Kumar in the forthcoming assembly election.
Addressing the rally at Patna Gandhi Maidan She said that PM is Keeping ‘MounVarat’ on all charges of corruption and has done nothing for the development of the Country.
She said Prime Minister Modi had promised to give job to 1 crore youth every year. What happened to that promise?
Bihar needs more economic help. It’s the right of the state. Except ‘Showbazi’, Modi government has done nothing for the state
Congress has always respected Bihar. And Bihar is developing under Nitish ji’s guidance
Modi government is anti-farmer government. They want to take lands from poor farmers and give it to their rich businessmen friends.
Earlier PM used to challenge issues related to Pakistan, now when things on border are unstable what’s his policy regarding Pakistan?
To counter the BJP’s false promises and against the communal forces we have assembled here on same stage.
Not unexpectedly, PM Modi’s earlier dig about Nitish Kumar’s political DNA came in for much criticism. “Some people constantly run down Bihar, make fun of its culture, find flaws in its DNA, call it bimaru,” Mrs Gandhi said.
“This is the place from where Gautam Buddha, Mahavir and Aryabhatta came… My DNA is the same DNA,” Mr Kumar said.
RJD chief tries his best to play Mandal card to outsmart BJP communal politics. He demanded government to release Census data on caste.
“The public is outraged over non-keeping of promises by the BJP (on) corruption, unemployment and inflation. BJP will face a debacle worse than Delhi. We will break its arrogance to pieces,” Prasad posted on social media platforms.
He asserted that the people of Bihar have made up their minds to chase away BJP from the state.
Referring to the crowd of supporters of the ‘grand secular alliance’ who gathered at the Gandhi Maidan, the venue of today’s Swabhiman Rally, Prasad said it was a testimony to the determination of the people of the state.
“The BJP has got a heart attack after noticing Gandhi Maidan teeming with people brimming with enthusiasm,” he said.
“You say this is Jungle Raj part 2. No, no, this is mangal raj (the government of the good) part 2,” said Lalu Prasad. “When two backward leaders came together the BJP started panicking… And now they are saying jungleraj,” he added.
BJP, LJP and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) have described this rally as a flop show. State BJP President Mangal Pandey said that the state machinery has been exploited to organise this rally. LJP President Ramvilas Paswan said the rally has failed in its purpose as people have not gathered as per their expectation. Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manji said this rally has exposed both Nitish Kumr and Lalu Prasad.