"Modi Government Working On Surya Ghar, INDI Alliance Relying On Lalten": PM Attacks Lalu Yadav Family In Bihar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the opposition during his address in Bihar's Bettiah on Wednesday (6 March). He said, "While we are working for Surya Ghar, INDI Alliance is relying on the light of lalten (lantern)."

Surya Ghar is the Modi government's scheme for rooftop solarisation, which will facilitate free electricity and allow households to earn by selling surplus electricity through the power grid.

Modi's jibe was at Congress' ally in Bihar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), whose election symbol is a lantern. Taking a jibe at the Yadav family, the PM said that only one family's poverty was eradicated during the Lantern rule.

He said that their biggest issue is that Modi does not have family. This was in response to RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's statement that Modi is attacking parivarvad (dynastic politics) as he does not have a family.

"If Bharat Ratna Karpuri Thakur was alive today, they would have asked the same question to him. They would have also questioned Bapu, JP (Narayan), (Ram Manohar) Lohia and Babasaheb Ambedkar," Modi added.

Reiterating that all Indians are his family members, Modi highlighted that his government restarted Barauni fertiliser plant. He attacked Congress-led INDI Alliance for keeping Ramlalla in tent for decades.

He also targeted 'jungle raj' by saying, "Bihar's youth was forced to migrate for employment. Here only one family prospered. Lands were grabbed in exchange of jobs. Can someone forgive them?"

Modi was indicating at Railways land-for-jobs scam which happened when Lalu Yadav was Railway Minister and allegedly lands were taken in exchange of Grade IV jobs in the Indian Railways.

"The family who brought jungle raj is the biggest culprit of Bihar's youth. They snatched fortune of lakhs of Bihari youths. NDA's double-engine government has brought Bihar ahead of jungle raj," the PM said.