Muzaffarpur/Darbhanga: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of doing “anything for votes” and alleging that the BJP was running the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government “through remote control.”
Kicking off his assembly election campaign in Bihar with consecutive rallies in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga, Gandhi shared the stage with the INDIA bloc’s chief ministerial face, Tejashwi Yadav.
“You must have seen the drama on TV that Modi was going to take a dip in the Yamuna for Chhath Puja. It was cancelled when it was revealed that the so-called river water was actually a puddle filled with clean, piped water,” Gandhi said. “Narendra Modi is ready for any drama. Tell him at a rally that you’ll vote for him if he dances, and he’ll perform Bharat Natyam,” he quipped.
Gandhi asserted that under Yadav’s leadership, Bihar would get a new government that would work for all sections of society, transcending caste and religion.
Appealing to voters, especially from the extremely backward classes, he said, “Do not live under the illusion that Nitish Kumar runs this government. It is controlled remotely by the BJP, which has no concern for Bihar.”
The Congress leader said Bihar’s economy needed a push for small and medium-scale industries, not policies that favour large corporations. “Most of your clothes carry the label ‘Made in China’. I want to see the day when it reads ‘Made in Bihar’. But this cannot happen under a government that destroyed small businesses through demonetisation and a flawed GST,” he said.
Gandhi also claimed that it was only after pressure from the Congress that the Modi government agreed to conduct a caste census. “Two Indias are being created—one for the common people and another for a handful of billionaires. That’s why states like Bihar remain poor despite their immense potential,” he alleged.
Criticising Modi’s remarks about cheap internet empowering the poor, Gandhi said, “Why doesn’t Modi admit that one business house controls the telecom sector? He wants people glued to reels and Instagram because he cannot provide them with jobs.”
He further “challenged” the prime minister to respond to former US President Donald Trump’s claim that “Operation Sindoor” was halted under American pressure. “Modi is afraid of Trump. Compare that to Indira Gandhi, who stood firm during the Bangladesh crisis despite global pressure,” Gandhi said.
Accusing the BJP of electoral malpractice, Gandhi alleged, “They stole elections in Maharashtra and Haryana and will try to do the same in Bihar. Stealing votes is an assault on Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution. We will protect it.”
Referring to Bihar’s historical legacy, Gandhi praised the state’s contribution to education and intellect. “Bihar’s potential is visible across the world—from Dubai to Mauritius to the US. The modern Nalanda University was the brainchild of the Congress-led UPA government. I believe the day will come when Americans will come to Bihar for higher studies,” he said.
Concluding his speech, Gandhi urged the people not to be misled by “Modi’s theatrics.” “You have sharp political sense—don’t let his drama deceive you,” he said.
