BIHAR BATTLE: Bihar crime rate at all-time high, Priyanka slams Nitish

“The crime in Bihar has risen to an all-time high. Industrialists are being killed, while women are scared to leave their homes. Now, a politician has been killed during campaigning in Mokama,” said Priyanka while addressing a rally in Begusarai.

The meeting started on an awkward note as the public address system faced a glitch the moment Priyanka took the stage and another microphone had to be installed.

The Congress leader said the NDA regime in Bihar had survived for the last 20 years by “deliberately creating social tension”. “They are whipping up ‘pseudo nationalism’ throughout the county,” she said.

Reiterating “vote theft” charge, Priyanka said 65 lakh people had been struck off the voter list. “They are weakening the democracy. Those struck off the voter list will not get benefits of government schemes either,” she said.

The Congress general secretary alleged that the Centre was imposing taxes on the common man, while a few chosen (PM Narendra) Modi’s “industrial friends” were being benefitted.

In an apparent reference to the allotment of 1,200 acres to the Adani group for setting up a thermal plant in Bihar, Priyanka said “things that were yours were handed over to the PM’s friends”.

Taking another jibe at the PM, Priyanka said, “The PM is now promising 2 crore jobs. Why couldn’t he deliver on this front till now?” She also alleged that the Nitish government was being remote-controlled from Delhi.

Meanwhile, in Muzaffarpur, Nitish said rumours were being spread that the government would take back Rs 10,000 from women beneficiaries after the elections. “The question of returning money transferred to 1.5 crore women associated with the Jeevika project doesn’t arise,” he said, adding his tenure as the CM had been marked by “all-round development”.

Rain plays spoilsport

• As the political atmosphere intensifies in Bihar, rain in the last two days has disrupted campaigning in various parts
• RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had to address a public meeting through his mobile phone, while Home Minister Amit Shah was forced to virtually address a meeting in Gopalganj
• As helicopters were grounded due to adverse weather, Tejashwi alone had to cancel 16 public meetings