‘Panja and lantern people together have hurt…’: PM Modi attacks Oppn in Bihar rally | 10 updates

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a roadshow and greeted people at a public meeting in Bihar’s Siwan, where he laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects, including in the water, rail, and power sectors.

Narendra Modi was accompanied by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a key ally, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha—both senior BJP leaders—in a clear display of unity within the NDA. The alliance is gearing up for the critical assembly elections set to take place in the coming months.

Here are the top ten updates from PM Modi’s visit to Bihar:

1. Attacking the opposition parties in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that ‘lantern’ and ‘panja’ people have hurt the pride of Bihar. ‘Lantern’ is the election symbol of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) headed by Tejashwi Yadav. ‘Panja, poll symbol of Indian National Congress (INC). “The ‘panja’ and ‘lantern’ people together have hurt the pride of Bihar. They looted so much that poverty became Bihar’s misfortune… But Modi is not the one who becomes quiet after doing so much work. I have to do a lot more for Bihar,” he added.

2. “Those who brought ‘jungle raj’ to Bihar are looking for an opportunity to repeat their old deeds somehow. You have to be very cautious for the bright future of your children. People who are ready to put the brake on the journey towards a prosperous Bihar have to be kept at bay… These people used to raise slogans of ‘gareebi hatao’. But the NDA government made it possible after you voted for us,” PM Modi said.

3. “RJD and Congress actions are anti-Bihar and anti-investment. Whenever they talk about development, people see locks hanging on shops, businesses, industries and trades… These people have been the nurturers of poor infrastructure, mafia raj, gunda raj, and corruption,” said PM Modi.

4. “We say ‘Sabka saath, sabka vikas’ but RJD believes in ‘parivaar ka vikas’. RJD insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar, people of Bihar will never forgive its leaders,” said PM Modi in Siwan.

5. “In last 10 years, 55,000 km rural roads were built in Bihar, 1.5 crore households got electricity; startups sprouting in small towns,” he noted.

6. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Marhowra rail factory is an example of the kind of Bihar NDA is creating… Now Bihar will be hailed in Africa too. This factory has been built in the same Saran district, which had been called backwards and abandoned by the RJD and Congress. Today, this district has created its space on the manufacturing and export map of the world. The ‘jungle raj’ people stalled the development engine of Bihar. But now a Bihar-made engine will power an African train…”

7. The factory was started in 2015 with a Memorandum of Understanding with the government to manufacture 1,000 freight locomotives of 4,500 and 6,000 HP for Railways in 10 years. The first locomotive was supplied in 2018, and since then, Wabtec has already delivered more than 700 locomotives, PTI reported.

8. Modi also handed over the first instalment to more than 53,600 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U) and marked the Grih Pravesh ceremony for over 6,600 completed houses by handing over keys to select beneficiaries.

9. Prime Minister Modi launched 28 development projects worth more than ₹5,900 crore in Bihar’s Siwan district. Modi inaugurated the new Vaishali–Deoria railway line project, built at a cost of over ₹400 crore, and flagged off a new train service on this route.

10. Earlier in the day, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary, in a post on X wrote, “Today the people of Bihar are eagerly waiting for Modi ji, from energy to railways, from housing to export…..he (the PM) is bringing many gifts for the people of the state during his 51st visit to Bihar today”. Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, Union ministers and several officials were present on the occasion.

(With inputs from agencies)