He Called Bihar 'Sick', Insulted its People: Nitish Kumar's Rebuttal to PM Modi

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar offered a rebuttal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in Patna.

Here are the highlights of what he said:

• PM Modi came to Bihar for the second time in a short time.
• There were high expectations.
• His visit has disappointed yet again.
• Last time he came, he raised questions about my DNA.
• He insulted Bihar.
• We asked him not to make such statements, and asked him to withdraw the comment.
• He did nothing of the sort.
• Instead, he called Bihar "unfortunate" and "sick" (bimaru).
• He forgot the development that has happened in Bihar in education, health.
• Calling Bihar 'sick', your are making a joke of yourself.
• He gave examples of two states - Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan - and said they have stopped being sick because BJP has been ruling there.
• I want to ask, who was at the Centre when these states stopped being sick?
• There was a different government at the Centre.
• Bihar is no longer sick.
• Going by the very same yardsticks that he applied to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Bihar is not sick.
• Arguments should be based on facts. What are his facts?
• That development can only happen if there are same governments at Centre and State is nulled by his examples.
• There were different governments at the Centre and State.
• And is this cooperative federalism?
• You are threatening the people that elect us or we won't cooperate with your state government? Is this your idea of cooperative federalism?
• And what does 'janta ka daman' and 'utpeedan' even mean?
• Where are these people you allege have been oppressed?
• The development that has come in the last ten years, he has ignored.
• He has disowned himself from all the work that we have done in the last few years. I'm glad, I am thankful.
• The BJP is not at all responsible for any progress in Bihar. He has said this. I am thankful for that.
• Education, health, development work... They have washed the BJP's hands from all the work.
• Respected Prime Minister, you are Prime Minister for the entire country.
• You have made your opinion clear. Jails are places for reform. It's is expected that when people go to jails they will come back reformed.
• Anyway, it is his belief that people who go to jail come back with bad habits.
• And he said it at a time his Bihar party president, who spoke right before him, has also sent time in jail.
• But you did well, you have give the responsibility of Bihar to a person who according to you has such qualities.
• During the Lok Sabha elections, you had promised that in the first year of your term you would decriminalise Indian politics.
• We hoped you would make announcements on those lines. But, nothing has been done.
• He is all about Twitter. His works and talks only on Twitter.
• Bodh Gaya is the land of enlightenment, land of salvation - He came here and spoke lies.
• He should have done something in Gaya.
• More people come to Gaya than Goa.
• The place has been developed a lot.
• Everything he says is on Twitter. He listens and hears on Twitter. When I understood this, I also went on Twitter because that's the only way to make him listen.
• About everything, you have said negative things.
• And you are threatening that you have to get the same government in Bihar or else there will be no development.
• Kahaan hai ulta lota? We went straight up to you, asked what we deserved.
• Whatever he has said is against the federal structure.
• Talking about cooperative federalism, is like betraying the people. Because you are not doing what you are saying.
• If there is cooperative federalism, then tell us where is it happening.
• No work is done in India without the people of Bihar.
• The kind of things he had said do not suit the Prime Minister or any leader.
• Calling RJD and JDU names is not befitting.
• He gave the example of Jharkhand.
• Mr PM, Jharkhand was a part of Bihar.
• Most power units, factories, mines have gone to Jharkhand.
• In the past, you have compared the entire India to Gujarat.
• But why compare us to Punjab, Odisha now? What contribution do you have in their development?
• About engineering students. You talked a lot about seats. But you should have said how many engineers you have given employment to?
• What happened to your promises of minimum support price to our farmers.
• What happened to your promise of bringing back black money?
• What happened to the promise of every Indian getting Rs 15-20 lakhs?
• Your party chief called all that a 'jumla' (non-serious promise).
• So is your Party the 'Bharatiya Jumla Party' then?