Patna (Bihar) [India], September 8: With the Bihar Assembly elections around the corner, Union Minister Nityanand Rai on Monday responded to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's criticism, asserting that Bihar has moved from a "jungle raj" to a "startup raj" under the NDA, highlighting the government's focus on development and employment generation ahead of the polls.
He urged Tejashwi Yadav to acknowledge these advancements and refrain from spreading confusion.
In a post on X, Rai emphasised that the state has witnessed substantial development across multiple sectors, from agriculture and industry to IT and tourism, contrasting it with the previous regime.
https://x.com/nityanandraibjp/status/1965017588251148378
"Tejashwi Yadav ji, you lack knowledge. You are unable to see Bihar's development. You are only spreading confusion. The reality is right in front of you. Tejashwi Yadav ji, for your information, let us tell you that our Bihar has become a hub for food processing. The Prist Park in Khagaria has already started, while the Mega Food Park in Motipur, Muzaffarpur, is ready. Under the PMFME scheme, Bihar ranks number 1 in the country, with 10,296 units approved and 6,589 units receiving loans in 2024-25. To make Bihar's Makhana farmers prosperous, a Makhana Board has been established, and 89 cold storage units are being built in the state. The question arises: why didn't all this happen during your parents' regime? Because during your rule, farmers were looted day and night," Rai said.
On employment and IT, Rai noted the state now hosts IT parks in Patna and Darbhanga, an SDPI Center in Bhagalpur, and active projects in Gaya and Muzaffarpur.
He added, "When the country was riding the chariot of technology, Lalu ji used to say, "What milk will this IT-YT yield?" Today, see for yourself: IT Parks are ready in Patna and Darbhanga, an SDPI Center has started in Bhagalpur, and work is progressing rapidly in Gaya and Muzaffarpur. After the state's IT Policy 2024, groundwork for investments worth over ₹4,000 crore has been laid in Bihar. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have been approved for Buxar and West Champaran. Tejashwi ji, during RJD's rule, IT was a joke, but in the NDA's era, IT Parks are the path to progress and prosperity for Biharis."
Rai also highlighted Bihar's growth in fish production, claiming the state has become the fourth-largest fish producer in India.
"Tejashwi ji, you talk about fish farming. Let me tell you that the jungle raj of your father's time is no longer in Bihar. With the support of the Bihar government, Bihar is the fourth-largest state in fish production in the country. Where earlier Bihar produced 2.68 tons of fish, that figure has now risen to 9.6 lakh tons. Now, Bihar is not buying fish; it is selling fish," he added.
He further asserted, " Bihar has made rapid progress in the dairy sector as well. In 2001, people in Bihar consumed 88 grams of milk per person, whereas today, they consume 400 grams per person. In 2004-05, Bihar's total milk production was 47.43 lakh tons, which has now increased to 128.52 lakh tons. Dairy plants are being built in Rohtas, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Gopalganj, and Gaya at a cost of ₹317 crore. To say that nothing has happened in Bihar in the last 20 years is nothing short of a grave sin."
The Minister also claimed that Bihar has also strengthened its industrial and startup ecosystem. "Today, 56 industrial areas and 12 parks have been established in Bihar. A petrochemical hub in Begusarai, a 1320MW power plant in Buxar, 20+ ethanol plants, and a food cluster in Mokama-Hajipur are in place. Work is ongoing on dairy and Makhana clusters in Darbhanga-Muzaffarpur. In the last three years, under Nitish Kumar ji's leadership, investment proposals worth ₹2.5 lakh crore have been received," he said.
"Bhagalpuri silk, Madhubani painting, Tikuli, and Sikki art have received GI tags, benefiting over 40,000 weavers directly. Through the 'Bihar Handloom Brand,' more than 100 products are now being sold from Dubai to Europe. Tejashwi Yadav ji, for your information, over 1,200 startups are set to begin with an investment of over ₹500 crore, some of which have already started. So, Tejashwi Yadav ji, understand this: the state has moved out of jungle raj and transformed into a startup raj, taking steps toward a developed Bihar," he added.
The Union Minister furthe said that tourism has flourished as well. Bodh Gaya now welcomes over 10 lakh foreign tourists annually, with 15 lakh domestic and 11 lakh foreign visitors recorded in 2023. "Bihar is now world-famous as the capital of Buddhist tourism. Bodh Gaya welcomes 10 lakh foreign tourists annually, while in 2023, 15 lakh domestic and 11 lakh foreign tourists visited. The state's tourism development is such that Asia's most modern ropeway, glass bridge, and zoo safari have started in Rajgir. The Patna Ganga Riverfront, Gandhi Circuit, and Mithila Religious Circuit together, tourism in Bihar has reached a global high," Rai noted.
Rai highlighted that in the past five years, 3.5 lakh teachers, 30,000 medical staff, and 40,000 police personnel were appointed through transparent BPSC and BSSC online exams. "Earlier, jobs meant scams; now, jobs mean merit. BPSC-BSSC online exams are transparent. In the last 5 years, the state government has appointed 3.5 lakh teachers, 30,000 medical staff, and 40,000 police personnel. This means Bihar has moved out of jungle raj and scam raj, ushering in a revolution of employment. This is the transformed Bihar of the NDA," he said.
Earlier today, former Deputy Minister of the state and former RJD MLA Tejashwi Yadav claimed that the NDA government has made Bihar a hub of unemployment, migration, and poverty.