Secular alliance dubs PM's six point prog as Nitish's copycat

The grand secular alliance comprising JD(U), RJD and Congress today termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's six-point programme for Bihar's development as a "copycat" of Nitish Kumar's vision document.

Addressing an election rally at Marhaura in Saran district, the Prime Minister talked about development promising "bijli-paani-sadak" (electricity, road and water) and "kamai-padhai-dawai" (earning, education and medicines) for each family in the state.

"The Prime Minister talked about 'bijli-paani-sadak' and 'kamai-padhai-dawai' in the rally in Saran. This is nothing but a copycat of Nitish Kumar's seven point agenda (for Bihar's development in the next five years). The copycat announcement in the middle of the elections will not help BJP," JD(U) Rajya Sabha member and national spokesman Pawan Verma told reporters here during a joint press conference of alliance leaders.

Nitish Kumar's seven point agenda for Bihar's development incorporates the six point programme announced by the Prime Minister, Verma claimed adding Kumar has a fixed time frame for implementation of each scheme and how it would be incorporated in the state's budget.

Kumar, in August last, had announced a Rs 2.70 lakh development plan known as vision document, which includes a seven-point agenda for development in the next five years, in response to the Prime Minister's announcement of special package of Rs 1.25 lakh crore for Bihar.

In his seven-point agenda, Kumar promised electricity, drinking water, toilets, colleges including for professional courses, Rs 500 crore venture capital fund for young entrepreneurs, loan for students, free Wi-fi etc.

Congress general secretary Mohan Prakash said the PM is mum on price rise on which he fought and won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, but forgot to fulfil his promise.

Prakash said if pulses, which normally sold at Rs 50-55 a kg, was sold at Rs 70 to Rs 80 per kg, then it could be termed as price rise, but what if it was sold at Rs 200 a kg?.

"If pulses are being sold at Rs 200 a kg, then it is not a price rise, it is a loot backed by the government," he said.

The Congress leader said the grand secular alliance was leading in the first two phases of polling in Bihar and referring to the NDA, he said there was a growing uneasiness in the "thug" alliance.

Terming the Prime Minister's speech as sub-standard and negative, RJD national spokesman Manoj Jha said Modi has lowered the dignity of the PM's post as his language and phraseology were "sub-standard."

This is happening because the Prime Minister has appointed Giriraj Singh, the Union Minister, as his script writer, Jha alleged.

"The Prime Minister should discharge his duties and create a better environment," he added.