Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s barbs at a public rally in Bhagalpur by accusing him of megalomania and distortion of facts. “Stop the chest-thumping” and “show some moral courage”, said the CM.
In fact, even before Modi finished speaking at the rally, Nitish tweeted: “What he says has less facts and more chants about ‘me, myself… only me’. Hearing him speak, I increasingly wonder if he would ever be able to improve his understanding and use of facts and figures.”
Counter-claimHe responded to Modi’s accusation that the Janata Alliance has no development agenda with a reiteration of his future commitments for Bihar, and a counter-claim that Modi is big on promises but short on delivery.
“Modiji must have whipped up his figures and data today from the same place he whipped up his special package — thin air,” said the Bihar CM.
On the PM’s focus on Bihar’s performance on the health front, Nitish was scathing.
“Modiji’s talk of health infrastructure is ironical because it is his government that has reduced the health budget and stopped the universal health plan,” he said after Modi had finished speaking.
Moral courageAhead of the Bhagalpur rally, the CM issued an advisory for the PM to not make new promises to Bihar but “show moral courage” and ensure implementation of all the pledges made till date.
“Show moral courage. No new promises please. Outline a credible action plan to deliver on the promises you have made to the people till date,” he said in a series of tweets.
He further asked Modi to live up to his 2014 election promise of decriminalisation, and not announce tickets to candidates with criminal backgrounds.
Nitish also exhorted the Prime Minister to deliver on his promise to provide special status to Bihar, and refrain from “misleading” the people by announcing a special package for the State.
Modi had announced the package at an official function in Arrah on August 18.
“Don’t mislead (people) with the so-called package where 86 per cent is repackaged old schemes,” the senior JD(U) leader said.
On Modi’s remark that something is wrong with the Chief Minister’s DNA, Nitish asked the former to “take back the derogatory words”.
DNA remark“Show moral courage. Take back your derogatory words on questioning the DNA and calling the State Bimaru and people as durbhagyashali (unfortunate),” he said, imploring Modi to respect the sentiments of the people of Bihar who, he said, are “troubled by his unkept promises and unsavoury comments”.
Nitish further asked Modi to stop indulging in rhetoric, chest-thumping and making new promises one after another and “accept his inadequacy to deliver on his old promises”.