Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched a blistering attack against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who he said had returned the ₹5 crore Gujarat had donated for rehabilitation of Kosi flood victims in 2010. Modi exhorted people to get rid of such an “arrogant politician”.

“Drunk with arrogance and head in the seventh sky, he (Kumar) returned ₹5 crore donated by people of Gujarat for families of Kosi victims,” the Prime Minister said, referring to the incident in 2010 when Kumar had returned a ₹5 crore cheque of Gujarat for Kosi flood victims rehabilitation after newspaper advertisements figured Modi’s photographs as chief minister of Gujarat at the time.

Betrayal of JP

Addressing the BJP’s ‘Parivartan’ rally here at Saharsa, Modi lambasted Kumar for joining hands with the Congress, which he said was “responsible” for the death of ‘Bihar Gaurav’ Jayprakash Narayan.

“Isn’t this a betrayal of JP? Hasn’t he (Kumar) pained JP’s atma (soul) or not?” he said.

In another dig at Kumar for joining hands with Lalu Prasad’s RJD, Modi reeled out Bihar police crime figure to claim that “jungle raj” prevailed in Bihar.

The PM’s rally here was considered politically significant as the Kosi region comprises 13 Assembly constituencies.

In 2010, the BJP had managed to win Saharsa alone, while 10 were won by JD(U) and two by RJD.

Dominated by Yadavs, Saharsa also forms part of the Madhepura Lok Sabha constituency from where JD (U) national president Sharad Yadav lost to Pappu Yadav.

BJP leaders, along with prominent leaders of allied parties, including Union ministers Ramvilas Paswan, former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, Union Minister and RLSP leader Upendra Kushwaha, senior party leaders Sushil Modi, Nand Kishore Yadav and state party chief Mangal Pandey were present on the dais.

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