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On his maiden visit to Bihar after assuming power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said politics had hampered the development of the state and promised to give more than Rs 50,000 crore special package to the poll-bound state at the right time.
Modi, who was in the state to kick-start his party's poll campaign for Bihar where assembly elections are due later this year, inaugurated several projects at a function attended by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and several Union Ministers.
Referring to chief minister's statement that the 38 km railway line from Daniyawan-Biharsharif could have been completed had polls in 2004 not taken place six months ahead of the tenure of the NDA government ended, he said, "I agree with Nitishji that politics had hindered development creating great loss."
Taking a jibe at former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Modi said, "After the change in the government, the railway ministers that came from here halted the work and after we came to power we have again started the work. Let those who wants to do politics do it. But the people of Bihar have been hit because of it."
Recalling his promise of giving a special package of Rs 50,000 crore to Bihar during the campaign for Parliamentary election, he said he would fulfil the promise at the right time.
"Meine jo Bihar ke janata se vada kiya tha usse age bad ke nibhayun ga sahi samay par (I'll deliver more than I had promised to people of Bihar at the right time)," he said.
"Looking at our dreams for a prosperous Bihar, we will give a bigger package than Rs 50,000 crore. This is my promise. The country will progress if the eastern part of the nation progress. The development of Bihar is our prime agenda, development of eastern India is our mission," he said.
Nitish Kumar poses 7 questions to Modi on Twitter
Earlier, launching a frontal attack on Prime Minister Modi, Nitish posed seven questions, quizzing the former about black money retrieval, farmer issues and special status for Bihar.
"We are grateful after 14 months Modiji finds time to visit Bihar. As we get ready to hear more promises what about his old ones?" Nitish said in a series of tweets.
"I am raising 7 critical issues -- 2 specific to Bihar and 5 that in my view people across India want to hear from the prime minister," he added.
The Bihar chief minister further asked the prime minister about the famed 'Acche Din' and the issue of black money retrieval.
"People are awaiting to get their 15-20 lakh from the black money you promised to bring back from abroad. Could we hear something on this," said Nitish.
He also took the NDA government to task on its U-turn on Minimum Support Price to farmers and the contentious Land Bill.
"First U-turn on MSP, then your apathy towards farmers' distress, and finally your new land bill. Is this what you promised to farmers," Nitish asked.
The Bihar chief minister also raised the demand for a special status for the state.
"You promised special status for Bihar. 14 months and people are still waiting," he said.
"With the 14th Finance Commission report and withdrawal of BRGF, Bihar is to lose 50,000 crore in 5 years. Is this your cooperative federalism," he added.