'Acche din' for Bihar: PM Modi announces Rs 1.25 lakh crore package
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, though invited, preferred to skip the function. Bihar's road construction minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh represented the state government at the function, organized by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
I promise you I will implement this package fully. If we want to solve people's problems then the only way ahead is development: PM
Taking a Jibe at Bihar CM Nitish 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 the chief minister had been seeking packages all the time. "Your chief minister turned very angry and said who is Narendra Modi to call Bihar a 'BIMARU' state? Nitish claimed with authority that Bihar is no longer a BIMARU state. "If it is true, then I will be the happiest person. I welcome this," Modi said.
"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 says give us this and give us that. Let the people of Bihar decide," Modi said. The PM was accompanied by Bihar governor Ram Nath Kovind and seven union ministers. The RLSP leader and union minister of state for HRD Upendra Kushwaha was conspicous by his absence. Kushwaha's name was printed on the invitation card circulated by NHAI, but he didn't turn up at the venue.
— ANI (@ANI_news)
(With inputs from agencies)
![]()
READ IN HINDI: मोदी ने दिया बिहार को मेगा पैकेज, नीतीश पर हमला भी किया
ARA (Bihar): Giving more than what he had promised to Bihar during the electioneering for 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announces a financial package of Rs 1.25 lakh crore for "transforming the destiny of the state."
He said, the centre would also provide Rs. 40,000 crore to the state for the ongoing existing projects besides the financial package. "Thus, total financial assistance for Bihar would go upto Rs 1.65 lakh crore," Modi said amidst thunderous applause from a very responsive audience at local Ramna Maidan of this district headquarters town, about 60 km west from Bihar's capital Patna.
Modi was addressing a public meeting after laying stones for altogether 11 projects of national highways in Bihar. He also inaugurated the 83 km long Muzaffarpur-Sonbarsa national highways after its conversion into two-lane from the previous single lane road.
READ ALSO: Complete list of Rs 1,25,003 crore package for Bihar
PM's package for Bihar: As it happened
"While electioneering for Bihar during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, I had promised you to give a package of Rs 50,000 crore. But after becoming the PM when I learnt the nitty-gritty of governance at the centre, I came to know that nothing concrete could be done for the state in Rs 50,000 crore. During the my last visit I could not talk about it since the Parliament was in session. Just four days ago, Parliament session concluded and I am here to fulfill my promise. From this land of 1857 revolt hero Kuer Singh and Jayaprakash Narayan, I announce a package of Rs 1.25 lakh crore to change the destiny of Bihar," Modi said.
Modi also tried to convince the people of Bihar that he was serious about its development. "The previous governments at Delhi and Patna had not necessary stamina to spent funds. I promise you I will implement this package fully. If we want to solve people's problems then the only way ahead is development," the PM said.