This poll is not on MLA, CM...it's on 'jungle raj' vs development: Shah

PATNA: Union home minister and top BJP campaigner Amit Shah Saturday urged voters in Khagaria to ensure that Bihar remains free from lawlessness and emerges a developed state. "I pray to Chhathi Maiya that our Bihar always remain free from jungle raj, that law and order stay strong, our sisters and daughters remain safe, and Bihar becomes a developed state in the years ahead," he said.

Chhath, which begins today, is a revered festival in Bihar and eastern UP. Shah, who also addressed rallies in Munger and Nalanda, said, "This electoral fight is not to make someone an MLA, a minister, or CM. This election will decide whether to bring back jungle raj or usher in an era of development. Tell me - do you want kidnapping, extortion, murder, ransom, abduction, jungle raj?" Shah said if NDA returns to power, the next Bihar assembly elections will be held in a single phase.

"Elections in Bihar had once required multiple phases because of security concerns during the regime of RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi," he added. Referring to Nalanda's historic legacy, he said PM Modi had "revived the cultural and academic heritage of Nalanda by rebuilding the world-famous Nalanda University, which was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji in the 12th century". In Nalanda, Shah said, "This is the NDA govt now. Even if 100 Bakhtiyar Khiljis come, no one can touch Nalanda University.

PM Modi has pledged to ensure both development and heritage. A new era of AI and data science is about to begin in Bihar. Many new factories and agro-processing industries are being set up, which will raise farmers' income and accelerate industrial growth." Taking a swipe at RJD neta Tejashwi Yadav, he said, "Tejashwi is talking about murder, robbery, and ransom in Bihar. This is like 'the cat going to Hajj after eating hundreds of rats'.

In the last 20 years, murder cases have declined by 20% compared to 2005, robbery and ransom cases have fallen by 80%, and not a single heinous massacre has taken place under the Nitish govt. During Lalu's rule, murder, robbery, ransom, kidnapping and massacres were a daily occurrence.

Lalu drove away industries, made Bihar a backward state." Appealing for a landslide mandate, Shah said voters should "strengthen the hands" of Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi. "NDA has ensured education in schools and colleges, timely medication, irrigation in fields, and tap drinking water supply to every household. The number of teachers has increased from 2 lakh to 6 lakh. The education budget has gone up 18-fold, the number of engineering colleges has risen 19-fold, and engineering seats have increased 31-fold. Literacy rate has reached 80% and clean drinking water is available in 96% of households.

" He accused INDIA bloc of "snatching jobs from youth by promoting cross-border infiltrations". "Rahul Gandhi can hold as many 'Save the Infiltrators' rallies as he wants, but he will not be able to save them."