Opposition trying to save infiltrators, risking Bihar security for yatras, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused the Congress-RJD alliance of trying to save infiltrators. He said this while inaugurating an airport in Purnea on Monday.

He accused the Opposition of indulging in vote bank politics. “They are raising slogans and undertaking yatras in support of infiltrators, putting the security and resources of Bihar at risk,” he stated.

Incidentally, Purnea falls in the Seemanchal area of Bihar, which is located close to both Nepal and Bangladesh. Purnea, Katihar, Araria and Kishanganj districts also have a dense Muslim population. The BJP has been alleging large scale infiltration from Bangladesh for three decades. PM Modi pushed his agenda forward even in his Independence Day speech at Red Fort, when he said that he would not allow demographic change.

The PM said, “Seemanchal was the worst sufferer during the RJD-Congress regime in Bihar and it badly needs development.” Seemanchal was also the focal area of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Vote Bachao Yatra’. Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, while addressing meetings, alleged that the Election Commission was omitting votes of a particular community in the name of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls. The draft publication of the SIR saw omission of more than 65 lakh voters.

“The person who came here before me did not know the name of makhana (fox nuts),” Modi said without taking any name. However, it was an apparent dig at Gandhi, who showed keen interest in the farming of fox nuts during his visit here last month.

Taking a dig at the Opposition over dynastic politics, the PM said, “Congress and RJD leaders are only concerned about their families. You (the people) are my family, That is why I say Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas. They (Congress and RJD) say Apne Pariwar Ke Saath, Apney Pariwar Ka Vikas.” He also recalled the alleged ‘jungle raj’ during the ‘Lalu-Rabri’ era.

The PM also highlighted that the reduction of GST on consumer items from September 22 would benefit women.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar also shared the stage with the PM. “The government before 2005 did not work. Some mistakes were done by my own leaders, else I would not have crossed over,” said Nitish, insisting he would not make the mistake of leaving the NDA again. He deserted the NDA in 2013 and 2022, only to re-join it later.

This is PM’s seventh visit to Bihar this year. During his three-hour stay today, he inaugurated a new airport, flagged off a Vande Bharat and three Amrit Bharat trains from the state. He also inaugurated and laid the foundation of projects to the tune of Rs 36,000 crore.

Meanwhile, the RJD has dubbed the laying of foundation stones of so many projects as ‘paper work’.