PM Modi addressing a rally in Jehanabad. (Press Trust of India photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched a blistering attack on rivals Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad over a sting video of a senior Janata Dal (United) or JDU minister allegedly accepting bribe. He said that they have "no shame" and accused the leaders of "insulting" Jaiprakash Narayan's legacy of fighting corruption.
In a embarrassment for the Nitish Kumar government, just a day before the first phase of polls, a sting video surfaced on Sunday, showing senior minister Awadhesh Prasad Kushwaha purportedly accepting bribe after which he had to resign.
Addressing back-to-back election rallies in Jehanabad and Bhabhua, PM Modi said what was worse was that the video surfaced on the birth anniversary of the socialist icon Jaiprakash Narayan also known as JP or Lok Nayak.
"This was done by those who used to stake claim to JP's legacy. Such insult to JP should have never been done, said PM Modi. "Such leaders have committed the sin of reducing Bihar's honour to dust."
He said that Awadesh Kushwaha claims five ministers had benefited from the bribe and urged him to name those ministers.
"Can Bihar be allowed to go into the hands of people, who have become shameless, to those who are not ashamed of such money transactions? There is something called shame in public life due to which even if somebody is caught committing a sin, he sits back at home. But here he is strutting," he said, attacking RJD chief Lalu Prasad.
Political circles in Bihar are abuzz with two more possible exposes in the pipeline, both involving RJD leaders. In the video, the audio quality of which is not good, Awadesh Kushwaha has been shown reportedly saying that a Mumbai firm wants to help some like-minded ministers in these elections and expects favours from them in return.
Linking the incident to Nitish Kumar's alliance with the RJD chief, PM Modi said," As long as the BJP was a part of the government, there was no such sting, no such corruption. But ever since he (Mr Kumar) joined hands with that 'great' man, who has expertise in such things, all of this has begun."
PM Modi said leaders of the 'grand alliance' are "scared" and flayed them for approaching Election Commission to halt the live telecast of his meetings today, when the first phase of the assembly poll is underway.
The district authorities had earlier denied permission for PM Modi's rally at Bhabhua but later granted it after Election Commission intervened.
"I am seeing some plan of conspiracy and this is a serious matter," the Prime Minister said, without elaborating further.