Tejashwi was named CM candidate after RJD pointed a katta at head of Congress: Modi in Bihar

Arrah/Nawada, Nov 2 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday claimed that the Congress had been unwilling to accept Tejashiw Yadav as the INDIA bloc's Chief Ministerial and relented only after the RJD pointed a "katta", an unlicensed gun, at its head.

The PM used the simile on the campaign trail in Bihar where he addressed back to back rallies in Bhojpur and Nawada districts, and highlighted the RJD's reputation for alleged strong arm tactics and its troubled equations with alliance partners.

"The Congress never wanted to announce the chief ministerial candidate in favour of the RJD. The RJD secured it by placing a katta on the head of the Congress. They have learnt their lessons in the school of jungle raj. Such elements can never do good for Bihar," he alleged.

Without mentioning Rahul Gandhi or Tejashwi Yadav by name, the PM said, "The crown prince of jungle raj has been wary that the Voter Adhikar Yatra of the other yuvraj may be denting his own prospects. Hence, the RJD has put up its candidate against the state president of the Congress. Let the polls be over. The two allies will be breaking each other's heads".

The allusion was to reserved Kutumba seat, where the RJD had reportedly planned to field a candidate against sitting MLA and BPCC president Rajesh Kumar. Although the RJD decided against doing so, the two alliance partners have ended up in "friendly fights" at a number of places.

Modi also predicted a "record victory" for the ruling NDA, which would continue providing a government that was "upright" and "foresighted" and build a "developed Bihar" that was necessary for "Viksit Bharat".

"'Jungle raj wallahs' are set to get the worst drubbing in history. The people of Bihar have not forgotten the 'jungle raj'," he added.

The PM, who was visibly pleased with the huge turnouts, said, "Analysts sitting in Delhi, who are racking their brains over poll arithmetic, would do well to come here and experience for themselves which way the wind is blowing." He said the manifesto released by the NDA last week put forth a vision for the future, unlike the charter of promises of the INDIA bloc, which was "a dossier of lies".

Modi also envisaged a future in which state people will not migrate under economic compulsions and "the youth of Bihar will work on their home soil and make their motherland proud".

Noting that Bhojpur and adjoining districts were known for providing a large number of recruits in the armed forces, he said national security and those who ensure it are of paramount importance to his government.

"One rank one pension (OROP) has resulted in the disbursement of Rs 1 lakh crore, which is benefitting families of servicemen," he said.

The PM said it was "Modi's guarantee" that Article 370 would be scrapped, and it has been done.

"We had vowed to beat the terrorists on their home turf. And we fulfilled that promise again with Operation Sindoor, which has made the nation proud," he said.

Training his guns at the opposition, Modi alleged, "When terror hideouts in Pakistan were being bombed, the royal family of Congress was losing sleep. Pakistan and the Congress have still not recovered from the shock of Operation Sindoor." Raking up the riots that broke out in the wake of the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Modi said, "It was around the same time of the year in 1984, on November 1-2, when Sikhs were massacred in Delhi. Those who were guilty are being promoted by the party. The Congress has been unapologetic about the carnage." Indirectly referring to the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' taken out by Rahul Gandhi, the PM alleged it was aimed to protect infiltrators who must be driven out lest they capture the resources meant for the people of Bihar.

"The jungle raj wallahs have very dangerous intentions. Be aware of them," said Modi, who also uttered a proverb in local dialect Bhojpuri, a rough translation of which is "the one responsible for destroying the field is now claiming to sow fresh seeds".

The PM, who has been pointing out region-specific instances of alleged misrule during the RJD regime, recalled the abduction of a doctor in Tarari, near Arrah, two decades ago, and the Naxal insurgency that took its toll on Dalmia Nagar, a once bustling industrial town in the adjoining district of Rohtas.

He disclosed that the NDA was planning to develop the birthplace of Veer Kunwar Singh, the ruler of the erstwhile princely estate of Jagdishpur, who was one of the heroes of the Revolt of 1857, asserting that "we believe in development while protecting cultural heritage".

"But Congress and RJD are known for being disdainful towards our heritage. They berated the Maha Kumbh held at Prayagraj. Recently, the Congress 'naamdaar' (Gandhi) made fun of the Chhath Puja festival. These people must be taught a lesson. I would urge those who have returned home for Chhath Puja to stay back to vote in this election." In Nawada, once a Maoism infested district, the PM said ultra-Left insurgency was destroyed by the NDA, but urged the people to be on guard against "urban naxals", who sympathise with the ideology while leading comfortable lives in cities.

In the evening, Modi led a mega roadshow in Patna.

Accompanied by Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan' of the JD(U), state BJP president Dilip Jaiswal and others, the PM waved his hands at the crowd gathered on both sides of the road and atop buildings as his vehicle passed through city roads.

Later, he also visited a gurdwara in Patna and offered prayers. PTI PKD NAC NN