In a compelling address delivered at a rally in Bihar’s Jhanjharpur parliamentary constituency, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, widely acknowledged as the BJP’s principal strategist, issued a stern warning about the looming threat of infiltration in Bihar’s border areas should Prime Minister Narendra Modi not be reelected to power.
During his impassioned speech, which spanned approximately 30 minutes, Shah criticized Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad for what he termed “appeasement politics.” He commended the people of Bihar for their resistance, which compelled the state government to retract its decision to eliminate holidays on Rakshabandhan and Janmashtami.
Shah further lambasted the Congress, a coalition partner in the state government, for their perceived reluctance on the issues of the Ram temple at Ayodhya and Article 370 related to Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. He showered accolades on PM Modi for his resolute actions in revoking Article 370 and facilitating the construction of the temple, anticipated to be completed by January next year.
However, Shah sounded an ominous note, warning that if the Lalu-Nitish alliance returns to power in Bihar and Modi does not continue as Prime Minister, the entire region could be overrun by infiltrators. He posed a crucial question to the audience: “Do you wish for the region to be inundated with infiltrators?”
Nonetheless, Shah expressed confidence in the BJP-led NDA’s prospects in Bihar, asserting their potential to secure victory in all 40 seats in the state during the 2024 elections.
Shah also criticized the INDIA coalition for what he perceived as denigration of “Sanatana Dharma” and claimed that the coalition rebranded itself from “UPA” due to associations with “scams involving Rs 12 lakh crore,” some of which allegedly involved Lalu Prasad.
Concluding his speech, Shah remarked on the aspirations of the Bihar Chief Minister and his ally, suggesting a potential conflict between their ambitions.
Throughout his address, Shah underscored the significance of Bihar’s heritage, emphasizing the benefits expected to flow from the Centre’s Ramayana Circuit tourism scheme, which encompasses several districts in the state.
He also attributed the showcasing of Nalanda and Madhubani paintings during the G20 presidency to PM Modi’s high regard for Bihar’s cultural heritage.
While lamenting the state of affairs in Bihar, particularly the Mithila region, plagued by floods and lawlessness, Shah credited the Modi government with providing substantial financial support for various projects in Bihar, surpassing the previous UPA government’s allocation.
Shah concluded by pointing out the Modi government’s role in the development of airports in Bihar, including the one in Darbhanga, and lamented the stalling of the AIIMS construction in Darbhanga, which he attributed to the state government’s actions.
In a strong rhetorical flourish, Shah asserted that the “Kumbhkaran ki neend” (deep slumber) of the Nitish Kumar government was detrimental to Bihar, and he highlighted the critical need for change in the state’s leadership to address these challenges effectively.
By PTI
