Bhagalpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed a public gathering in Bhagalpur, where he praised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and launched a sharp attack on the opposition, particularly the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress.
Greeting the crowd in Maithili, PM Modi referred to Nitish Kumar as “Ladla (beloved) Chief Minister” and took a swipe at RJD leader Lalu Prasad, saying, “Those who can eat animal fodder cannot change the circumstances.”
Criticising previous governments, PM Modi accused them of failing to protect the interests of farmers. “Earlier, middlemen used to usurp the rights of small farmers. But this is Modi, this is Nitish ji, and we will not let anyone take away farmers’ rights,” he said. He claimed that under the Congress and RJD rule, the agricultural budget was negligible compared to what the NDA government has allocated over the years.
Focusing on his government’s pro-farmer initiatives, PM Modi highlighted subsidies on fertilisers. “A sack of fertiliser that costs Rs 3,000 in the market is provided to you for just Rs 300. If our government was not there, you would still be paying Rs 3,000 for it,” he said, adding that the Centre has spent Rs 12 lakh crore in the last decade on fertiliser subsidies.
He also credited his government for putting an end to black marketing of urea and ensuring adequate supply to farmers. “Earlier, farmers used to get beaten up for urea. Today, they get enough supply. Imagine what would have happened if the NDA government wasn’t there. The Barauni fertiliser plant would have remained closed.”
PM Modi also lauded JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lallan Singh, for his role in two major projects—the Centre of Excellence in Motihari, focused on cattle breeding, and the revival of the Barauni fertiliser plant.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, while addressing the rally, echoed PM Modi’s sentiments and took a dig at the opposition. “Before 2005, no one dared to step out after evening. These people instigated Hindu-Muslim clashes while seeking votes from the Muslim community. Today, under Modi ji’s leadership, there is peace, and development is taking place across the country.”
The rally comes as the BJP-JD(U) alliance gears up for the 2025 Bihar assembly elections, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to the state’s progress under the NDA.
