Union home minister Amit Shah has castigated the Opposition’s Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), suggesting it changed its name from United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to sidestep associations with rampant corruption.*
During a rally in Jhanjharpur, Shah also characterized the alliance between Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav as akin to the incompatible elements of oil and water, hinting at an impending discord.
“They have formed a fresh alliance under a different name. Their previous incarnation, the UPA, was marred by corruption amounting to ₹12 lakh crore. Lalu Yadav was embroiled in financial wrongdoing during his tenure as railway minister. They resorted to a name change since resurrecting the UPA moniker was not an option. Hence, the birth of the INDI Alliance,” Shah stated at the Madhubani district rally.
Describing the opposition coalition as driven by selfish motives, the senior BJP leader asserted, “Lalu Yadav aspires to anoint his son as the chief minister, while Nitish Kumar harbors prime ministerial aspirations. However, the prime minister’s seat is occupied, with Narendra Modi set to retain it. This alliance threatens to plunge Bihar back into an era reminiscent of ‘Jungle Raj.’ Their appeasement policies jeopardize Bihar’s security.”
Shah also referenced Bihar cabinet minister Chandra Shekhar’s controversial remarks concerning Ramcharitmanas and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s comments on ‘Sanatana Dharma’.
“The constituents of this alliance display disrespect towards Ramcharitmanas, even going so far as to cancel holidays on Rakshabandhan and Janmashtami. They unfairly associate Sanatana Dharma with various maladies. Their stance is primarily centered around appeasement, while they actively opposed the construction of the Ram temple,” Shah remarked.
The home minister confidently predicted that the NDA would secure all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar during the 2024 elections, surpassing the 2019 record.
“In 2019, we clinched 39 seats. This time around, we are poised to surpass all previous benchmarks by winning all 40 seats,” he affirmed.
Shah expressed concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation in Bihar and warned that the “opportunistic alliance” would exacerbate the problem.
“The law and order scenario in Bihar is deteriorating steadily, and the Mahagathbandhan’s presence will further exacerbate this situation,” Shah cautioned.
He also stated that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi were not reelected, the ‘Seemanchal’ region would witness an influx of intruders.
Furthermore, Shah credited Prime Minister Modi with securing the inclusion of the African Union in the G20.
