SITAMARHI (BIHAR), Nov 8 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday alleged that people in Bihar were refraining from voting for the RJD-led opposition, fearing that if the INDIA bloc came to power, it would impose a regime of intimidation symbolized by the ‘katta’—a country-made firearm.
Addressing an election rally in Sitamarhi district, Modi contrasted the NDA’s development agenda with what he termed the RJD’s legacy of misrule.
“I shudder to hear that the RJD, in its campaign, is getting children to say that when they grow up, they want to become ‘rangdaar’ (street bullies). Bihar does not want a government of ‘katta’, ‘kushasan’ (misgovernance), ‘kroorta’ (cruelty) and corruption,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that wherever he went, he sensed a strong sentiment among people for another NDA government.
“People do not want a ‘katta sarkar’; they want an NDA sarkar again. They do not want a regime that would put a katta on their heads and tell them to raise their hands. People want ‘start-up’, not ‘hands up’. The NDA shuns the katta and promotes school bags, computers, cricket bats and hockey sticks,” he said.
Modi also expressed satisfaction over the high voter turnout in the first phase of the state assembly elections, which recorded 65.08 per cent participation, according to the Election Commission.
“You have given a big shock to the opposition. They are getting sleepless nights,” he said, asserting that the turnout reflected overwhelming support for the NDA.
Highlighting welfare schemes, Modi mentioned the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyami Yojana, launched over a month ago, under which ₹10,000 each has been transferred to the accounts of more than one crore women.
“This would never have been possible under the ‘jungle raj’ regime,” he said, recalling former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s remark that only 15 paise of every rupee sanctioned by the government reached the people. “You all know the blood-stained hand responsible for that loot,” he added, in a veiled reference to the Congress party’s poll symbol.
The Prime Minister also cited the Punaura Dham project in Sitamarhi, believed to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita, as evidence of the NDA’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage.
He accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi—referred to as the “naamdaar of Congress”—of “insulting the faith of mothers and sisters by calling the Chhath festival a drama.”
“Is it not an insult to our sentiments? In a democracy, the best way to punish is through the power of your vote,” Modi said, urging voters to reject those who, he alleged, had shown contempt for Hindu traditions such as the Maha Kumbh and the Ram Temple at Ayodhya.
The Prime Minister further accused the RJD-Congress alliance of boycotting religious shrines for “vote bank politics” and protecting “infiltrators” at the cost of national interest.
“Those guided by vote bank politics can never do good for the state,” Modi added.
