The rally came a day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the NDA of using Chhath Puja and Yamuna clean-up promises to win votes. (Photo: ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a large public rally in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. He strongly defended the Chhath festival and accused the Congress and RJD of disrespecting it for political gain.
The rally came a day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the NDA of using Chhath Puja and Yamuna clean-up promises to win votes. PM Modi hit back, saying the opposition was insulting ‘Chhathi Maiyya’ just to get votes.
“Our government is trying to secure UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status for the Chhath Mahaparva,” Modi said. “I listen to Chhath songs while travelling. I was once moved to listen to one of these songs rendered by a girl from Nagaland. But while this son of yours is busy ensuring that Chhath gets the honour that is its due, the Congress-RJD people are heaping scorn on the festival, calling it a drama, a nautanki,” said Modi, without mentioning any leader by name.
He asked the crowd if such disrespect should be tolerated. “But when your son (Modi) wants to make Chhath popular across the world, the Congress and RJD are insulting Chhathi Maiyya. Tell me – can anyone insult Chhathi Maiyya only for votes? Will Bihar and India tolerate it? Will mothers who fast on Chhath tolerate it? How shameless are the RJD and Congress? For them, this puja is a drama and nautanki? Will you punish such people or not?” Modi said.
Modi accused the RJD of betraying Bihar during its rule. “What have the RJD and Congress done? What have the jungle raj people done? There are five words – Katta (country guns), Kroorta (cruelty), Katuta (bitterness), Kushasan (bad governance) and corruption,” he said.
He claimed that under their leadership, Bihar saw no development. “Such people can never do good for Bihar,” he said. Modi added that the NDA and BJP aim to promote
“Our priority in the NDA and BJP is to enhance Bihar’s pride, to spread Bihar’s sweet language and rich culture to every corner of the world, and to ensure Bihar’s development…RJD and Congress can never make Bihar developed. These parties ruled Bihar for decades, but all they gave the people was betrayal and false promises,” he added.
Modi assured the crowd that the NDA would create opportunities in Bihar. “‘Bihar ka bete, beti ab palaayan nahi karega, Bihar mein hi kaam karega, Bihar mein hi naam karega’… (NDA is committed to ensuring that Bihar has ample opportunities for education, employment, healthcare, and irrigation),” he added.
He also claimed that internal fights were happening within the opposition alliance. According to him, surveys show that the RJD-led coalition is heading for a major defeat, which is why they are making “unrealistic promises”.
