Finally, Dadri stirs Modi to speak up

Nawada (Bihar), October 8

Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally broke silence over the raging beef controversy by asking Hindus and Muslims to unite in fighting poverty instead of taking on each other.

Modi, addressing poll rallies at Munger, Begusarai, Samastipur and Nawada, asked people to ignore “irresponsible statements” made by certain politicians and recalled President Pranab Mukherjee’s message of maintaining diversity, tolerance and plurality.

The PM said: “We have to decide whether Hindus should fight Muslims or poverty. Muslims should decide whether to fight Hindus or poverty. The country would benefit if both came together to fight poverty. Some leaders are spreading irresponsible statements to draw mileage. At such a juncture, follow President’s message of tolerance, endurance and plurality so that communal harmony could be maintained.”

Modi, while addressing a gathering at Jitwarpur, a Yadav-dominated area, pushed his government’s development agenda.

He attacked JD-U leader and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad, saying: “Samastipur has been the land of Karpuri Thakur and Jaiprakash Narayan who fought with the Congress against corruption but both are now in the Congress’ lap.”

On Nitish-Lalu tie-up, Modi said: “They are ‘Bade-Chhote Bhai’ (elder and younger brothers). While they denigrated each other in the past, greed for power had brought them together. The two parties have ruled for 25 years and even after their 35 years of rule, including Congress’ regime, the state has not seen development. The three parties want to bring ‘jungle raj’ (reign of terror). NDA’s ‘Vikas Raj’ would ensure state’s progress.” Modi said one of the allies was spreading seeds of casteism while the other was promoting communalism ahead of the Assembly elections.

Nitish in his 2010 election rallies had said he would not seek votes if his government failed to provide electricity across the state. “He has not kept his promise and doesn’t have the right to govern. They must give the account of their governance.”

Modi, whose silence on the Dadri beef lynching incident has been questioned by the Opposition, repeatedly targeted Lalu over his beef remark, terming it as an insult to the "Yaduvanshis" (Yadav clan) as also Bihar.

"What all is he saying? What all Yadavs eat? Whatever position Lalu rose to, it was because of these Yaduvanshis and he insulted them. What kind of abuses you are hurling at them?

Is it not an insult of Yadavs and Bihar? Do not humiliate the Yaduvanshis so much. Laluji, these Yaduvanshis helped you to come to power," said Modi. He also trashed Lalu's explanation that he made the beef remark under the influence of "shaitan" (devil).

"I wonder the devil got only his (Lalu) body to enter. I want to know how the shaitan got the address (of Lalu). The devil got no other body in entire Bihar, India and the whole world except that of his. And he also welcomed the devil as if some relative has come," Modi said.

Modi's repeated reference to Lalu's beef remark drew a sharp reaction from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who termed it as "a brazen attempt to add communal texture to the polls".

"The real Modi on display — brazen attempt to add communal texture to Bihar polls, but deafening silence on deplorable incident of Dadri," Kumar tweeted.

(With agency inputs)