Bihar to soon be flooded with cash! Rs 1.65 lakh cr handed out for the state

To influence voters in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Tuesday a package of whopping Rs 1.25 lakh crore for the state and promised that it would touch new heights of development if the BJP is voted to power.

Modi also attacked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for putting the prestige of Bihar at stake by pleading with the previous UPA government for packages and getting only Rs 12,000 crore, reported PTI.

"I am here today to fulfill my promise to you. I am announcing a package of Rs 1.25 lakh crore for Bihar. Now you give me your blessings to change the fate of Bihar," he said at a government function in Arrah district, where several projects were launched.

The PM also made it clear that the Rs 1.25 lakh crore package will be in addition to the ongoing projects worth Rs 40, 657 crore, announced previously.

In the wake of high-stakes state assembly polls, the BJP is banking heavily on the Centre's development package to wrest power from Nitish Kumar, its one time ally-turned-rival, who has now joined hands with Lalu Prasad's RJD to take on the saffron combine.

Attacking Kumar for his claim that Bihar was no longer a 'bimaru' state as claimed by Modi in his previous rally in Bihar, Modi wondered why he had been seeking packages all the time.

He said: "Our chief minister turned very angry and said who is Modi to call Bihar a 'bimaru' state. He said with authority that Bihar is no longer a bimaru state. If it is true, then I will be the happiest person. I welcome this.”

"Tell me, if somebody is healthy, will he go to a doctor. If somebody's stomach is full, will he go anywhere seeking food? I am surprised that on the one hand he says Bihar is not bimaru and on the other he keeps asking for something or the other. Let the people of Bihar decide," Modi said.

He further cited the previous two packages of Rs 10,000 crore and Rs 12,000 crore given to the state in 2003 and 2013 and said the CM could not utilize them properly.

Referring to Kumar's split with BJP in 2013, he said the chief minister then went to 'Delhi Durbar' and pleaded that please give me something to keep my honour.

"For political benefits, he put at stake the prestige of Bihar," Modi said, adding that Rs 12000 crore given by UPA was like giving a candy to a child who cries too much.

Invoking freedom fighter Babu Veer Kunwar Singh, who hailed from Arrah, and seeking Jayaprakash Narayan's blessings, he went on to ask people, "Should it be Rs 50, 000 crore or more, Rs 60, 000 cr, Rs 70, 000 cr...," he said as the crowd cheered and then stood up as he made the final announcement of Rs 1.25 lakh crore.

Wooing the electorate, he said people of Bihar were bestowed with "sharp intellect" and mentioned that Chanakya was born here.

He also spoke about the "comprehensive work" being done by his government, especially regarding skilling youth and training women, to develop the country and took a jibe at the previous dispensations, saying they had a "piecemeal" approach to progress.

The CM, who had gone to receive Modi at Patna Airport, was not present at the Arrah function where the PM inaugurated & laid foundation stone of 11 National Highway projects of 700 km at a cost of Rs 9,700 crore.

(Image: Indiatimes)