JOIN USPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday invoked the Kosi tragedy to remind the people of Bihar about the humiliation he had suffered at the hands of Nitish Kumar a few years ago.
“Exactly seven years ago, when Kosi tragedy struck on August 18, 2008, I too was perplexed with the kind of devastation it brought in the north-east part of the Bihar. I wanted to extend assistance to flood-affected people of Kosi region. But Nitish Kumar, who was then power-drunk, refunded the cheque of Rs 5 crore which I had sent and packed off the relief materials sent from Gujarat. It’s now time to pack off this arrogant Nitish,” Modi launched a blistering attack on his one-time rival at Saharsa, his second destination for public rally on Tuesday.
Making a no-holds-barred attack on the JD (U) strongman, Modi cited the crime figures of Bihar Police to emphasis how the state has been gradually turning into a lawless regime. “Serious crimes have increased from 13,808 (in January) to 18,500 in July, a 34 per cent increase, while murder cases have seen a quantum jump of 46 per cent in the last six months. Are we not heading towards Jungle raj-2?” Modi, in his imitable style asked the cheering crowd.
Reacting to the intemperate language used by Modi against the Bihar Chief Minister during his two public rallies on Tuesday, Nitish charged the Prime Minister with being full of contempt. “Instead of praising a state government, which has developed on its own in the last one decade, the PM is humiliating the leaders of rival parties and using offensive language during his public meetings. This is unbecoming of a prime minister,” lamented Nitish, later on Tuesday evening.