Ambedkar in Heart, Not at Feet: PM Modi Slams Lalu in Fiery Bihar’s Siwan Address
Siwan: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Siwan on Friday was as much a political address as it was a declaration of intent. Speaking in Bhojpuri to a crowd that greeted him with chants and flower showers, PM Modi began his speech with invocations to local deities and a tribute to Dr Rajendra Prasad, India’s first president and Siwan’s most celebrated son. But the tone soon shifted to the political battlefield, as he launched a sharp attack on the RJD-led opposition and hailed Bihar’s evolving role in India’s development story.
PM Modi’s message was twofold: celebrate Bihar’s transformation, and warn voters against what he called “the return of Jungle Raj.” The Prime Minister claimed that the 28 infrastructure projects he launched or laid the foundation stone for—worth over Rs 51,000 crore—would directly benefit Siwan and several other districts including West and East Champaran, Rohtas, Buxar, and Bhojpur.
“The world today sees India as the third biggest economic superpower,” PM Modi said, referencing his recent interactions with global leaders at the G7 summit. “And Bihar will play a big role in this story. Bihar will prosper and contribute immensely to India’s growth.”
A sharp critique of the past
Turning his guns on the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and its ally Congress, PM Modi accused them of turning Bihar into a “symbol of migration and backwardness.”
“Panja [Congress] and Lalten [RJD] destroyed the pride of Bihar. They looted the state for 20 years and left it poor and defenceless,” he said. “But the people of Bihar had the courage to come out of Jungle Raj, and they must not forget the price they paid.”
PM Modi contrasted this with what he described as the development-oriented governance under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, now once again his ally. “Under Nitish Ji, 3.75 crore people in Bihar have come out of poverty in the last decade,” he said. “We’ve built 55,000 km of rural roads and delivered four crore pucca houses with electricity.”
A vision for Bihar’s global role
The Prime Minister made special mention of the Marhaura locomotive factory, which exported its first engine to Africa on Friday. “This isn’t just a train—it’s Bihar’s pride rolling across international tracks,” he said, calling the project a testament to Bihar’s role in the ‘Make in India’ mission.
“Even makhana from Bihar is now reaching global markets,” he added, signalling the government’s broader ambitions for the state’s agro-industries.
He also praised the new Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra and Gorakhpur, which he flagged off during the event. “This train will connect Baba Hariharnath’s land with Baba Baidyanath Dham and Kushinagar—the land of Lord Buddha. It will boost both connectivity and tourism in Bihar and neighbouring regions.”
A warning against dynastic politics
PM Modi used the platform to intensify his critique of dynastic politics. “We say Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, but RJD and Congress believe in Parivar Ka Saath, Parivar Ka Vikas,” he said. “Even Baba Saheb Ambedkar was against this. Today, RJD leaders are insulting Baba Saheb by putting his photograph at their feet, while I keep him in my heart.”
In another public endorsement, PM Modi also acknowledged Nitish Kumar’s leadership. “Nitish Ji is leading Bihar’s rapid development. I am hopeful the people of Bihar will continue to support him in this journey to revive Bihar’s lost glory.”
With his fifth visit to the state this year, PM Modi’s address in Siwan was more than just a campaign stop. It was a roadmap—a pitch to place Bihar at the heart of India’s emerging economic and political narrative, while challenging the state’s voters to remember the past and choose a future aligned with his development vision in the upcoming state assembly elections.
