Bihar elections: PM Modi slams RJD-Congress for ‘Jungle Raj' in Siwan rally; unveils key projects, flags off Vande Bharat Express
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary during the public rally in Siwan, Bihar. (Picture credit: PTI)
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Bihar's Siwan on Friday, inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects while launching a fierce political attack on the Congress-RJD alliance.
In his fourth visit to the poll-bound state this year, the PM flagged off a state-of-the-art locomotive built at the Marhowra Plant for export to the Republic of Guinea, marking the plant's first-ever export under the 'Make in India' initiative.
Equipped with high-horsepower engines, advanced AC propulsion, microprocessor-based controls, and regenerative braking, the locomotive represents Bihar's growing stature in global manufacturing.
'Now Bihar will be hailed in Africa too,' the Prime Minister said, adding that 'this district has created its space on the manufacturing and export map of the world.'
In another key initiative, PM Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra and Gorakhpur via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah. He also inaugurated the new Vaishali-Deoria railway line project worth over Rs 400 crore and launched a new train service on the route.
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To address pollution in the Ganga and improve urban amenities, the Prime Minister inaugurated six sewage treatment plants under the Namami Gange project worth over Rs 1,800 crore. He also laid the foundation for water supply, sanitation and STP projects worth over Rs 3,000 crore in multiple Bihar towns.
Boosting the state's power infrastructure, Modi laid the foundation for a 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System to be installed across 15 grid substations, including Muzaffarpur, Bettiah, and Siwan.
The system will help avoid expensive peak-hour power purchases by feeding stored energy into the grid.
On the housing front, the Prime Minister released the first instalment to over 53,600 beneficiaries of PMAY (Urban) and conducted a symbolic Grih Pravesh ceremony for over 6,600 new homeowners. 'In the coming time, three crore more houses will be built,' he pledged.
Addressing a public meeting, PM Modi said, 'The NDA is carrying forward the mission of great men like Rajendra Prasad and Brajkishore Prasad.'
He also linked Bihar's resurgence to India's rise, stating, 'Leaders of the world see India as the next economic superpower. Bihar will play a major role in this.'
Lashing out at the opposition, he accused the Congress and RJD of being 'anti-Bihar and anti-investment.' 'The 'panja' and 'lantern' people together have hurt the pride of Bihar", he said, referring to RJD and Congress symbols.
"They looted so much that poverty became Bihar's misfortune...
But Modi is not the one who becomes quiet after doing so much work. I have to do a lot more for Bihar. Those who brought 'jungle raj' to Bihar are looking for an opportunity to repeat their old deeds somehow. You have to be very cautious for the bright future of your children. People who are ready to put the brake on the journey towards a prosperous Bihar have to be kept at bay.
.. These people used to raise slogans of 'gareebi hatao'.
But the NDA government made it possible after you voted for us', he added.
'The RJD-Congress mantra has always been the prosperity of their own families. For your children's future, keep such forces away,' he told the crowd, asserting that the NDA government has provided over 1.5 crore homes with electricity and water connections, built 55,000 km of rural roads, and set up more than 45,000 Common Service Centres.
'In the same Saran district once labelled backward by the RJD, we now manufacture locomotives for the world. The jungle raj people had stalled development, but Bihar-made engines will now power Africa's trains,' the Prime Minister said.
He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to continue working day and night: 'I will not sleep peacefully till every family member of mine, my people of Bihar, lives with dignity.'
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