"We still face hunger, poverty, helplessness": Prashant Kishor criticises Centre for failing to deliver on key issues in Bihar
Patna (Bihar) [India], June 26 (ANI): Ahead of the upcoming Bihar elections, Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder Prashant Kishor has criticised the Centre for failing to deliver on issues such as employment, poverty alleviation, and development in the state.
He alleged that the government's focus has been more on image-building than real impact.
In an interview with ANI, Kishor said, 'They claim toilets have been built everywhere. These are just lies. No one in this country has matched Modi ji when it comes to theatrics and lying. He promised to bring back black money and deposit Rs 15 lakh in everyone's account. He promised two crore jobs every year. Where are they?'
He said that despite PM Modi being in power at the Centre for 11 years, Bihar continues to suffer from poverty, hunger, and helplessness. He pointed out that no major industries have been established in the state, forcing young people to migrate in search of work.
'We still face hunger, poverty, and helplessness. We ask this government--after being in power for twenty years in the state and eleven years at the Centre--can you name even one domain where Bihar ranks number one nationally?' he questioned.
He also alleged that the government's claims are based on manipulated data, particularly in areas such as toilet construction and educational reforms.
'All they do is list claims based on manipulated data. They say the condition has improved--more schools, more teachers. But the real question is: where are the teachers?' he said.
Kishor further criticised PM Modi for failing to reopen sugar mills in Bihar or fulfil his promise of granting the state special status and a special package.
'He comes and talks about drinking tea made from sugar produced in mills he claimed he would restart. It's been eleven years--when will those sugar mills reopen? When will we get that sugar to make tea? He promised a special package and special status for Bihar. Where are they?' Kishor questioned.
He also slammed Union Ministers from Bihar, accusing them of failing to bring any meaningful projects to the state.
'All it did was repackage ongoing projects without any special additions. Even the Textile Minister, Piyush Goyal, didn't allocate a mega textile park to Bihar. Bihar has several Union Ministers. What have they brought from the Centre to Bihar? In fact, an agro-research centre originally in Bihar was being shifted to Karnataka under Shivraj Singh Chauhan when he was the Agriculture Minister. It was only halted after public uproar,' Kishor said.
He alleged that democratic institutions and the media have been 'hijacked' under the Modi government. 'Modi ji wins elections in the country because of propaganda. All democratic institutions in the country have been hijacked over the last eleven years. The media have been hijacked. We must say this openly... TV is flooded with Modi's coverage every day, but the media only questions the Opposition...' he said.
'Why has he stopped holding press conferences? Why is there no accountability? Earlier, the media used to question the ruling party. Now, they only push their propaganda and put the Opposition in the dock,' he added.
In the current 243-member Bihar Assembly, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds 131 seats -- BJP (80), JD(U) (45), HAM(S) (4), and support from 2 independents. The Opposition INDIA Bloc holds 111 seats -- RJD (77), Congress (19), CPI(ML) (11), CPI(M) (2) and CPI (2). (ANI)
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