LATEST IN INDIA: NARENDRA MODI IN PATNA

Rousing Speech by Narendra Modi at 'Hunkar Rally' in Patna

BJP's 'Hunkar Rally' in Patna on Sunday.

Patna: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the BJP's 'Hunkar Rally' at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Sunday, took direct aim at his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar and the Congress-led UPA government at the Center asking people to get rid of both of them to begin a new era in the Indian politics based on development and equal justice for all.

Undaunted by the serial bomb blasts in the city just minutes before his speech at his arch-nemesis Nitish Kumar's turf, the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate greeted over one lakh people at the sprawling Maidan by chanting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'.

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Referring to Bihar's historic and glorious role during the Ramayan and Mahabharata eras, the Buddhist era, the Mauryan era, and the British period, Modi hailed the people of Bihar by calling them strong and determined and always ready to fight for the dignity of the nation. Using Bhojpuri, Magahi, and Maithili dialects, Modi reminded the strong crowd of over a lakh to fight against injustice meted to them by former leaders of Bihar.

"Biharis are hard working and very inspirational. They have risen on occasion whenever duty called. They are not opportunists – barring a few exceptions," Modi said in direct reference to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who severed ties with the BJP after being an ally for over 17 years.

Calling Kumar his 'friend', the Gujarat Chief Minister said people were asking him why Nitish Kumar broke away from the BJP. "If someone can betray his own mentor like Loknayak Jaya Prakash Narayan, why wouldn't he betray others?" he said.

Continuing his assault on Nitish Kumar, Modi said that those who claimed to be the disciples of Ram Manohar Lohia were today hanging with a party like Congress against whom Lohia fought his entire life.

The BJP Prime Ministerial candidate also took a dig at Nitish Kumar for snubbing him during a pre-scheduled dinner meet by cancelling it at the last moment.

"I had once the opportunity to host 'my friend' in Gujarat. I spared no effort in making sure Mr. Kumar was treated with respect and comfort. I was delighted to treat him with our Gujarati delicacies of all sorts because that is what Indians are known for – their unmatched hospitality," he said.

On the demand of special status for Bihar, the Gujarat Chief Minister said that it was a matter of only 200 days before there would be a change at the Center.

"It does not matter whether the Center gives Bihar a special package. I will gladly pay back the people of Bihar with full interest," he said.

The BJP leader also recounted his talk with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav after Yadav was involved in an accident.

"Mr. Yadav had never missed an opportunity to abuse me. He has said that he would make sure I would never become the Prime Minister of India. Yet, after talking with me, he called the media and appreciated my attempt to reach out to him and ask for his welfare. It is because the king of Yadavs, Lord Sri Krishna himself chose Dwarka in Gujarat as his home," he said.

Modi also made direct appeals to the Muslims and Yadavs of Bihar and praised them for their roles in nation building.

Accusing both Congress and Janata Dal - U of further dividing the community on caste and sub-caste basis, Modi appealed for a 'one-India' where all were treated equally and justly.

The Gujarat Chief Minister also lashed out at the Bihar government for its apathy towards the Indian soldiers from Bihar who were killed by Pakistani soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir last August. Referring to Bihar Panchayati Raj Minister Bhim Singh who had said that people joined armed forces to achieve martyrdom, Modi said that such people should be ashamed of themselves and thrown out of power.

Taking aim at the Congress at the Center, Modi said that he would stop referring to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi as 'Shahzada' the day Congress ends the politics of dynasty.

"Congress has failed to fulfill its electoral promises. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has magic hands. Whatever he touches, it disappears – be it potato or onion. He is also a man of few words, how would he answer the CBI questions in the Coal-gate?" he asked.

Appealing directly to the Muslims of Bihar, Modi asked them if they wanted to fight Hindus or fight poverty. "Let's come together and fight poverty," he said adding 'India First' was his mantra. He ended his speech with an appeal for Hindu-Muslim unity.

Earlier, party senior leader Arun Jaitley, party national president Rajnath Singh, Sushil Kumar Modi, Shahnawaz Hussain, and Rajiv Pratap Rudy also spoke on the occasion.

As reported, just minutes before Modi's speech, a series of bomb blasts near Gandhi Maidan and Patna Junction left five persons dead and dozens injured. The Center has asked the state government to investigate the blasts and submit its report immediately.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who left Patna for Rajgir has cut short his trip in the wake of the blasts.

On the morning of 27 October 2013, a bomb exploded at Patna railway station at around 10:00 , while two unexploded bombs were recovered by bomb disposal personnel. The second bomb exploded at 12:10, while the third bomb exploded at 12:25, both near Gandhi Maidan, where theBharatiya Janata Party’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was supposed to hold a rally in the lead-up to the Indian general election, 2014 a couple of hours later. There were five other blasts from which three bombs exploded in and out of the Gandhi Maidan area, one exploded near a cinema hall and another close to the Twin Tower building complex in Patna.^{[citation needed]}

The chronology of the bombings were:^[6]