By IANS,
Patna : Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Thursday launched a scathing attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying no development has taken place in the state.
“It is unfortunate that development has not taken place in Bihar despite the funds provided by the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government to the tune of Rs.1 lakh crore. It was double the amount given by the previous NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government to the state – which was Rs.50,000 crore only,” he said addressing a public rally at Araria.
Gandhi, who began his day-long campaign Thursday for the October-November Bihar assembly polls by addressing rallies in Katihar and Araria, asserted that the Congress has been working for the common man and is committed to the development of Bihar.
“People are neither getting more than two hours of electricity, nor drinking water, or health and other facilities,” Gandhi said to counter Nitish Kumar’s claims of development in Bihar during his five-year regime.
Gandhi questioned Nitish Kumar for his partnership with Bharatiya Janata Party whose ideology is “against building an India for all”.
He said the Congress was fighting for an ideology to build India for all — irrespective of religion, community, caste and region.
“Nitish Kumar is telling people that he stopped Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to campaign in Bihar assembly polls but he is in partnership with the ideology that is in practice in Gujarat,” Rahul told an election rally in Katihar district.
Gandhi further said that Nitish Kumar’s partnership is not with BJP leaders but with its ideology as he has been supporting their move “to create division in the name of religion and community”.
“We are fighting against the ideology that divided the country and will fight till the finish for the integrity and unity of India,” Gandhi said.
“The Congress wants to build an India for all. India should be for all,” he added.
During a public meeting in Saharsa district, Gandhi said: “If development has at all taken place in Bihar, then why are people migrating to Mumbai, Haryana, Punjab and Delhi for livelihood?”
Bihar goes to the polls over six phases starting Oct 21.