Bihar can’t risk return to ‘jungle raj’, says PM

PATNA: Emphasising the need for unity among NDA partners and mobilisation of cadre and sympathisers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged BJP workers to ensure the alliance’s victory so that there is no return to the “jungle raj” that characterised the Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi governments.Addressing BJP workers over a video link, the PM referred to the remark a special court made while allowing charges to be framed against Lalu Prasad, his wife, former CM Rabri Devi, and his political successor, CM-aspirant Tejashwi, in a case involving corruption in Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation during the RJD boss’s tenure as railway minister. “The courts have taken cognisance of their corruption.

It’s not politics.

Bihar cannot take the risk that such people of jungle raj come to power again to push Bihar (back) into that era.” The special court, while allowing the framing of charges, had termed Lalu Prasad as the “fountainhead of a criminal conspiracy” and had said there was “grave suspicion” that Rabri Devi and Tejashwi had been the beneficiaries of corruption.Popular resentment against ‘jungle raj’, shorthand for the widely perceived lawlessness, corruption and non-governance that characterised 15 years of Lalu-Rabri govts, played a key role in NDA’s success against RJD in successive elections.

However, the term does not evoke the same feelings among the demographic who grew up post-RJD govts.“It’s not the leaders, but the party workers at booths who win elections. Win booths to ensure success in the election,” Modi said.NDA govt gave Bihar 9L crore between 2014-2024: PM Modi In a pitch that seemed aimed at countering the possibility of Tejashwi seeking to project himself as a break from his parents, Modi said, “Tell people between the ages of 18 and 45 about jungle raj in detail.Urge the elderly people to tell them the stories of the 1990s in Bihar. People in the 18-45 age group haven’t seen the era that devastated Bihar. Naxalites would blow up tracks.There would be thefts from goods trains. How could anyone survive in such an environment? All development work had then come to a standstill.” Modi also emphasised the importance of unity and mobilisation of workers.“It’s not the leaders, but the party workers at booths who win elections.

Win booths to ensure success in the election. Tell the youth by staging street plays how bad the situation in Bihar was before people like CM Nitish Kumar, the late Sushil Modi and Ram Vilas Paswan, the ever-smiling Jitan Ram Manjhi, and the BJP leadership in the NDA govt brought it out of jungle raj,” Modi said. Launching the “Mera Booth Sabse Majboot” campaign, Modi said the UPA govt gave Bihar only 2 lakh crore in 10 years.“The NDA govt gave Bihar 9 lakh crore between 2014 and 2024, including 4 lakh crore for rail, roads, bridges and airports. We have to take Bihar into the top five states in the country. The face of Bihar has changed after much effort by the NDA govt at the Centre and under CM Nitish Kumar in the state,” he said.The PM said after GST and Diwali on Oct 20, the women of Bihar should be ready to celebrate another Diwali over an NDA victory on Nov 14, when the Bihar assembly election results will be out.

He urged the women to celebrate “Bhaiya Dooj” on Oct 23 by gathering brothers at every booth and telling them about govt schemes and introducing them to beneficiaries.“Brothers should also buy their sisters’ local products to promote vocal for local,” he said. Modi said women are a guarantee of success in elections and told BJP workers to visit every household at least 10 times and interact with them. He asked them to work for all NDA candidates in the Bihar election.