Patna (Bihar) [India], August 22 : Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Friday took a swipe at the Opposition, stating that the Congress party had long practised the politics of "divide and rule".
Paswan also criticised the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), alleging that its politics only involved the talks of regionalism, casteism, communalism and the Muslim-Yadav equation. In contrast, he said, the BJP-led government at the Centre focused on inclusive development.
"It is a fact that for a long time, Congress has adopted the politics of divide and rule. RJD's politics involves talk of regionalism, casteism, communalism, and the Muslim-Yadav equation, whereas on the other hand, our government speaks of inclusive development for all... Those who engage in divisive politics are the ones who have done the most to ruin the state and the country..."Paswan told reporters here.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, inaugurated the Aunta-Simaria bridge project constructed over the River Ganga on National Highway 31 in Begusarai.
Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Union Minister Giriraj Singh, and Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Sinha and Samrat Choudhary were also present at the inauguration ceremony.
The 8.15-km-long project includes a 1.86-km-long six-lane bridge, built at a cost of over Rs 1,870 crore. The bridge is expected to significantly reduce the extra travel distance of more than 100 km for the heavy vehicles moving between North Bihar districts such as Begusarai, Supaul, Madhubani, Purnea, and Araria, and South Bihar areas, including Sheikhpura, Nawada, and Lakhisarai. The bridge will also help decongest traffic in other parts of the region caused by the earlier detour these vehicles had to take.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for several development projects in Bihar's Gaya district.
Addressing a public rally in Gaya Ji, Prime Minister Modi launched a scathing attack on the "corrupt" Opposition, further criticising the rule of previous governments of the RJD and the Congress in the State.
"Remember the condition here during the rule of lantern (RJD). This region was in the clutches of the Red Terror. Cities like Gaya Ji were in darkness during the rule of 'lantern' (RJD)... They had pushed the entire state into darkness. There was no education or employment. So many generations were forced to migrate. RJD considers the people of Bihar only as their vote bank. They want nothing to do with their life, sorrows, or respect," the Prime Minister said.