
Bihar polls: Prashant Kishor accuses PM Modi of ignoring key issues; says 'spoke about four things, and left'
Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder
on Sunday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Siwan, accusing him of overlooking pressing issues such as unemployment and the migration of students from Bihar.
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Addressing the media during his 'Bihar Badlav' rally in Siwan, Kishor said, 'Did Modi ji speak about how to stop migration of students in Siwan? Modi ji should talk about when people will get employment in Bihar.'
'Modi Ji came down from his helicopter, spoke about four things, and left. The people of Bihar are no longer going to fall for that hoax,' he added.
visited Siwan on June 20, where he flagged off a state-of-the-art locomotive built at the Marhowra Plant for export to the Republic of Guinea under the 'Make in India' initiative.
The facility became the first in the country to manufacture export locomotives, featuring high-horsepower engines, advanced AC propulsion, microprocessor-based controls, ergonomic cabins and regenerative braking technology.
He also flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra and Gorakhpur via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah.
During the visit, PM Modi hit out at opposition parties in Bihar, accusing the Congress and RJD of promoting 'Gundaraj' and corruption during their tenure.
He said, 'RJD and Congress are against Bihar and investments. They can never make a place in the heart of Biharis.'
The Prime Minister also accused the INDIA bloc allies of damaging the dignity of the people of Bihar. 'My Bihari brothers and sisters show their mettle by working even in the most difficult situations. They never compromise with his self-respect. But the people with the Panja (Congress) and the lantern (RJD) together have greatly hurt Bihar's self-respect,' he said.
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Assembly elections in Bihar are expected later this year, likely in October or November. The Election Commission of India has not yet declared the official dates. While the NDA eyes another term, the INDIA bloc, comprising RJD and Congress, is hoping for a comeback, with Jan Suraaj under Kishor also in the fray.
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