Patna (Bihar) [India], June 22 : Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has said that the coming Bihar assembly will be an "election for change" and accused the BJP and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of doing little for Bihar in their rule, saying the state continues to face several challenges including poverty and unemployment.
He attacked Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the ruling alliance should spell out one development indicator in which Bihar is number one in the country.
He said that despite Janata Dal-Untied leader Nitish Kumar being in power for nearly 20 years and Narendra Modi serving as Prime Minister for 11 years, Bihar continues to remain at the bottom in key indicators such as per capita income and education. "Bihar is number one in poverty, unemployment, has maximum migration, it is lowest in per capita income, per capita investment, we are far behind in healthcare, education," he said.
Tejashwi Yadav said that RJD and other allies of Mahagathbandhan are ready for the assembly polls later this year. "We were ready last time also, this election is going to be election of change," he said, adding that they lost the previous assembly polls by a narrow vote margin.
The former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister claimed that as per NCRB data, crime incidents have increased since 2005 in the state.
Targeting PM Modi, he said the Prime Minister promises to make every election-bound state "number one state" in the country. "Don't know which state will be number two, three...", he said.
"People gave Nitish Kumar 20 years to serve the state and PM Modi has been Prime Minister for 11 years. They have done nothing for Bihar. PM said they will give special package..where is it, people of Bihar want to know, they cheat...the country has not seen a better actor and person speaking lies than Modiji," he alleged.
Tejashwi Yadav alleged that PM Modi has not fulfilled promises of bringing back black money, people getting Rs 15 lakh in their accounts and two crore jobs being generated annually. He also alleged that promises concerning Housing for All and on construction of toilets have remained unfulfilled.
Asked about BJP-led repeatedly getting mandate of people at the Centre and also in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav claimed it is due to "propaganda" and alleged that "all institutions have been hijacked".
He also made light of announcements in the union budget for Bihar, saying old schemes have been announced and can't be counted as special package.
The RJD leader said that Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh is a MP from Bihar but when textile parks (PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel - PM MITRA) were announced, there was none for the state.
"Out of nine parks, none have been allocated to Bihar. There are so many union ministers from Bihar...," he said.
Asked about a whole list of development works cited by BJP and JD-U leaders and their assertions that migration has decreased, the number of schools increased, and paper leaks have stopped, Tejashwi Yadav asked if there was any exam without paper leak except for the period when he was Deputy Chief Minister in the coalition government.
"During the 17 months, five lakh posts were filled. They say school building has been constructed, but where are the teachers? Bihar is struggling with hunger, poverty, and hopelessness. What is the change in last 20 years," he asked.
Political parties are gearing up their preparation for the assembly polls. Nitish Kumar announced on Saturday that pension to widows, senior citizens and people with disabilities would be increased from Rs 400 to Rs 1100 per month.