PATNA/NEW DELHI: Hours after the Mahagathbandhan named Tejashwi Yadav as its CM face, PM Modi on Thursday raised the pitch of ‘jungle raj’, saying people will not forget the 15-year RJD govt for 100 years and never allow its return, however hard the opposition alliance may try.‘Jungle raj’ was the constant theme in his interaction with five youths associated with BJP as he slammed the opposition’s gathbandhan as “lathbandhan” (unruly alliance), in what was seen as allusion to the lawlessness that characterised RJD’s 15 years in office under Tejashwi’s parents, Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi, and the aggression that many associate with RJD. Its one specialty is that its netas, whether from Patna or Delhi — a reference to the RJD and Congress brass — are on out bail in corruption cases, he further said, in what was a dig at the legal troubles of both Tejashwi and Rahul Gandhi. The virtual interaction, Modi’s second, conducted as part of BJP’s “Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot” programme, was scheduled the morning ahead of the joint press conference of opposition politicians, amid indications they may name former deputy CM Tejashwi as their choice for CM.Modi will kick off his Bihar campaign on Friday with a visit to the late Karpoori Thakur’s village in Samastipur district. Thakur, a socialist neta, was a messiah of EBCs, and the NDA govt had conferred on him the Bharat Ratna last year. Lauding CM Nitish Kumar-headed NDA govt for bringing the state out of the darkness of RJD’s alleged ‘jungle raj’ and ushering in the light of development, he said the assembly polls will write a new chapter of state’s prosperity. “Now jan vishwas (people’s trust) and not ‘jungle raj reigns in the state.”A thief finds it difficult to steal in light, so he sneaks in with a lantern, Modi said, in reference to RJD’s poll symbol and the power shortages the state used to suffer under its govt. “People are not going to forget jungle raj for the next 100 years,” he said, asking BJP’s young members to invite older voters, who lived under RJD govt during 1990-2005, to share their experiences with others. Future of young generations was destroyed in that period, Modi said. “Bihar is waiting with renewed expectation for NDA govt to return to office with a bigger majority.” The state’s young population is saying that “raftaar pakar chuka Bihar, phir se NDA sarkar”.Reaching out to women, Modi said they were confined to their homes during the RJD’s long stint in office. But under the present govt’s self-employment scheme, Rs 10,000 each had been given to over 1.21 crore women and those left out will be included after Nov 14, the day of poll result, when a new era of women empowerment will begin, he added.The PM said stable govts in Bihar and the Centre have ensured implementation of development work in the state and stressed that all-round infra projects and a host of development schemes have led to the emergence of new opportunities for the youth. With Tejashwi making a string of populist announcements, including a govt job for every household, Modi asked voters not to fall for the false promises and said Bihar will be developed as a tech hub in the years ahead. “The coming years are of unprecedented opportunities for youngsters. They won’t have to leave Bihar (for jobs),” he said. “Development not fear, progress not migration are part of conversations in Bihar now.”Saying that Naxalism had wreaked havoc in Bihar, Modi suggested that RJD had received help from Maoists. Go to Source
