Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his poll campaign in Bihar on Friday with a rally at Sasaram, where he opened a stinging attack on the Opposition over farmers’ protest, Article 370, Rafale jets, law and order and development issues. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was also present at the rally.

Faulting the Opposition protests over the recently-passed farm bills, the Prime Minister said, “Mandis and MSP is just an excuse, they actually want to help middlemen… they spread rumours when we started the Direct Benefit transfer. They spoke the language of middlemen when we purchased the Rafale jets”

PM Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi are in Bihar today. The Prime Minister will hold two more rallies in Gaya and Bhagalpur and Gandhi will address meetings at Nawada’s Hisua and Bhagalpur’s Kahalgaon. Bihar goes to polls in three phases on October 28, November 3 and 7. Votes will be counted on November 10.

In his opening remarks, the PM paid tributes to two ‘sons of Bihar’ and said, “Bihar lost its two sons recently. I pay my respects to Ram Vilas Paswan Ji, who was with me till his last breath and gave his entire life for the welfare of the poor and Dalits. Similarly, Babu Raghuvansh Prasad Singh ji also worked for poor. I pay respects to him.”

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Remembering the bravehearts who lost their lives for the country in Galwan Valley and Pulwama, the PM added, “Sons of Bihar lost their lives in Galwan Valley for the tricolour and ensured Bharat Mata’s head is held high. Jawans of Bihar were also martyred in Pulwama attack. I bow my head at their feet and pay respects.”

On the first major election being held in India amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he congratulated the people of Bihar, saying, “I want to congratulate the people of Bihar for the way they are fighting the battle against COVID-19. The decisions and  steps taken by the state govt  and people of Bihar against the pandemic are highly commendable.”

This praise came amid severe criticism of the state government by detractors over the way the pandemic and the consequent reverse migration was handled.

Also Read: Opposition hits out at BJP after its ‘free COVID-19 vaccine’ for Bihar in poll manifesto

On the Opposition statements that they would reverse the 2019 abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the PM said, “The NDA government abrogated Article 370. These people say they will bring it back if they come to power. After saying this they dare to ask for votes from Bihar. Is this not an insult of Bihar?”

Earlier, Nitish Kumar praised the Prime Minister for the development of Bihar. “Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, we’ve worked for the development of Bihar. If given another chance to serve the state, we’ll make sure irrigation facilities and benefits of the latest technology are available at every village,” he said.