Congress' Attempt To Link Bihar's People With 'Bidis' Insult To Biharis: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday slammed the Congress for allegedly comparing the people of Bihar with 'bidis', terming it an "insult to Biharis", and said people of the state will give a befitting reply to the opposition INDIA bloc constituents in the upcoming assembly polls.

A now-deleted social media post by the Kerala unit of the Congress had triggered controversy, as its language linked "Bihar with bidis".

The post was aimed at the central government's GST policy on tobacco products.

Addressing a public rally here, the PM claimed, "The Congress leaders say 'bidis' and Bihar start with B. This is a sheer insult to the state and its people. They will give a befitting reply to the Congress and its alliance partners in the coming days." Modi slammed the RJD and the Congress for alleged misgovernance during their rule in Bihar.

The prime minister accused the opposition of patronising infiltrators in the state, and said that the NDA government will drive them out.

"Bihar had suffered a lot due to misgovernance by the RJD and the Congress. They can't digest the state's development. Mothers and sisters will give the opposition a befitting reply in the polls," Modi said.

He asserted that the eastern state has always played a major role in the country's development, safety and security.

Accusing the leaders of the RJD and the Congress of being concerned only about their families, Modi asserted that he believes in 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vishwas'.

"Modi's motto is to support poor people," he said.

The prime minister also said the Centre has issued a notification for the constitution of the National Makhana Board to benefit farmers.

"Four crore pucca houses have been distributed among the poor people so far, and three crore more are being built," he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)