NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Congress-RJD alliance over a controversial social media post (now deleted) by the Kerala Congress that compared Bihar to a bidi after GST revision, calling it an insult to the state.”You must have noticed that RJD’s ally, the Congress party, is comparing Bihar to a beedi on social media. People have so much hatred for Bihar. They harbor so much hatred for Bihar and, through corruption and scams, have caused great harm to the state. Whenever Bihar progresses, these people are hellbent to insult Bihar,” PM Modi said while addressing a gathering in Purnea. The prime minister asserted that his government would halt infiltration, which he alleged was encouraged under opposition’s leadership.Also read – ‘Infiltrators have to go’: PM Modi targets Congress, RJD; hails role of ‘mothers & sisters’The controversy began with a now-deleted post by Kerala Congress that said, “Bidis and Bihar start with B. Cannot be considered a sin anymore,” referring to the GST Council’s decision to reduce tax on bidis to 18 percent. The remark drew strong criticism from the BJP and its ally JD(U), while the RJD distanced itself from the post, terming it “wrong.” Kerala Congress later admitted it was “a mistake” and apologised, but BJP leaders continued to accuse the Congress of nurturing an “anti-Bihar mentality. ”Intensifying his attack, PM Modi said in Purnea, “For RJD and Congress, the biggest concern is to worry about their own family. These people will never worry about your family. But for Modi, you all are Modi’s family. And that is why Modi says ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’…Modi cares about your expenses, cares about your savings.”He linked the government’s GST reforms to relief for households ahead of the festive season. “Many festivals are coming in the coming days. This time, before Diwali and Chhath, our government has given a very big gift to the poor and the middle class. From the first day of Navratri, 22nd September, GST will be drastically reduced in the country. GST has been drastically reduced on most of the things you need in your daily life,” he said.Addressing women in the audience, PM Modi added, “My mothers and sisters who have come here, I especially want to tell you that due to reduction in GST, the kitchen expenses are going to be reduced a lot. From toothpaste, soap, and shampoo to ghee and many food items will become cheaper. The price of stationery used for children’s studies will decrease. This time it will be easier to buy new clothes and shoes for children during the festival, because they will also be cheaper. When there is a government that cares about the poor, it works for the welfare of the poor.”
