Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday unveiled a special package for election-bound Bihar to the tune of Rs 1.25- lakh crore.
The special assistance is apart from the approved projects worth Rs 40,000 crore, which would take the poll sop for the state to Rs 1,65,000 crore.
The announcement by the prime minister came soon after the stone-laying function for 10 highway projects in Ara, headquarters of the Bhojpur district. Modi also did not miss the opportunity to take a dig at state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, known to be one of his fiercest rivals.
Modi targets Nitish
“When I talk of Bihar as a Bimaru rajya (sick state), Nitish feels offended and says Bihar has developed so much in the last one decade that it has left the Bimaru tag way behind. I agree with Nitish and welcome this achievement. But someone should explain to me that if the state has prospered so much, then why Nitish keeps asking for special status and other financial packages? Have you ever heard someone who is not ill, but still insisting on seeing a doctor? Or have you seen a person who had full meal but is still asking for bread,” Modi asked, taking a sharp dig.
The BJP supporters cheered every time the PM mocked the JD(U) strongman.
PM’s Bhojpuri moment
Earlier, Modi struck an emotional chord with the people of Arrah by starting his speech in Bhojpuri. “Raura logon ke hamar pranam. (My regards to all of you),” Modi said amid a loud applause and then went on to add that he was feeling privileged to announce the financial package for Bihar from the hometown of veteran freedom fighter Veer Kunwar Singh.
Modi said the fiscal assistance of Rs 1.25-lakh crore (cr) included Rs 16,000 cr for electrification, Rs 13,820 cr for rural roads, Rs 54,713 cr for highways and Rs 8,870 cr for railways projects in the state.
Kumar, who received the PM at the Patna airport in the morning, did not join him for the government function, which eventually turned into a BJP rally. Union ministers Ram Vilas Paswan, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Ramkripal Yadav and Upendra Kushwaha were also present at the rally.
Bihar is set for a high-voltage election later this year.
Farmer’s Welfare Rs 3,094 cr
*Upgrade of Rajendra Prasad Agriculture University to Central University, creation of
new Research Centre
*Development of Fisheries, Farm water management, Storage capacity, Farm mechanisation, Seed productionsystems
*Construction of new godownsfor foodgrains
Petroleum & Gas Rs 21,476 cr
*Expansion of Barauni Refinery + new Petrochemical Plant
*Construction of gas pipelines, new LPG plants and massive expansion in domestic LPG connections
*Petrol-Diesel pipeline from Raxaul to Nepal
Health Rs 600 cr
*Upgradate of 3 medical colleges at Patna, Bhagalpur, Gaya
Electricity Rs 16,130 cr
*1,300 MW new power plant at Buxor
*Electrification of villages under Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Vidyut Yojana (sufficient for farms, uninterrupted for homes)
*Electrification of towns-cities under Integrated Power Development Scheme
Highways Rs 54,713 cr
*2,775 km of National Highways (four-laning & widening)
*Construction of bridges (across Ganga, Sone, Kosi)
*Construction of 12 rail overbridges
