Patna: Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi indirectly targeted Tejashwi Yadav, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Friday hit back, saying the PM is unable to grasp the real issues of Bihar since there was a generational gap with the people.
“I’m just a small theth Bihari who is speaking up for Biharis, talking about youth, jobs, migrant labourers. We are talking on these lines. They are senior to me. There is a two-generation gap between me and Modi ji and Nitish ji. If they can’t sense the real issues of Biharis, who’s at fault,” he said at a press conference in Patna.
“If PM thinks mahaul (situation) is being created (for me to win), then I am only raising the issues that people are concerned about. We feel discussion should be on these issues. There’s a lot of difference between my father and me also. But for us, it is the opinion of Biharis that is important,” he added.
PM Modi, who addressed three rallies in the state Friday, had said that in every election, there is an effort to make a candidate look popular, but voters always end up rejecting them.
“Do peediyo ka faasla hai Nitish ji aur Modi ji aur mai. Wo youth ko black and white TV dikhana chahte hai, aur hum 24 inch ka TV aur artificial intelligence ke daur mai le jaana chaahte hai (There is a big generation gap between Nitish ji, Modi ji and me. They still want to show black and white TVs to the youth while we want to take you towards 24-inch TVs and artificial intelligence),” Yadav said.
The 31-year-old politician is the chief ministerial candidate for the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan that includes Congress, CPI, CPI(M) and CPI-ML.
Bihar goes to polls in three phases — on 28 October, 3 November and 7 November, with counting scheduled for 10 November.
Also read: In his first Bihar rally, Narendra Modi shows Nitish Kumar his place
‘Modi, Nitish silent on jobs’
Yadav further questioned why PM Modi and the Bihar government have been silent on jobs and industry.
“Bihar har cheez mai fissadi raaj kyun? (Why is Bihar the most backward state in the country?) For Ayushman Bharat, Centre didn’t give a single penny in the last financial year. Why have they woken up from their stupor now?
“PM is the chief of NITI Aayog, he should tell us why, according to its own report, Bihar is at the bottom in all aspects? Why didn’t he speak on this in his rallies?” Yadav said.
The RJD leader also raised questions on the BJP’s manifesto promise of creating 19 lakh job opportunities.
“They are talking about creation of 19 lakh ‘job opportunities’. Can the Prime Minister tell us if, in any state ruled by them in the past five years, have they been able to provide even 5 lakh jobs?”
Yadav has focused his entire campaign on job creation and aspirations of the youth,
promising 10 lakh jobs if voted to power.
He said people were expecting Modi to speak on basic issues such as the recent floods and drought but the PM “did not utter a word”.
Yadav has been relentless in his attacks on the BJP, Janata Dal (United) and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He claimed the people were no longer angry with the government, they hated it.
“People are not angry, people have started hating the current government. People have faith in our vision and they are trusting us and they feel this youngster is understanding our concerns and aspirations,” he said.
Recalling a 2014 election rally of Modi’s in Motihari, Yadav said the PM had promised to revive a non-functioning sugar mill but nothing has happened.
“I promise that if my government is formed, sugar, jute and paper mills that are not functional…we will make them functional.”
Also read: The real Bihar election will begin after the results
Finally we are getting a politician who not only is talking about main issues rather making it a poll issue too. I am personally not a great fan of RJD, but still that party has got a good leader having some vision and humanity. I hope our beloved beloved Bjp-Jdu will also follow the suite. Back to real politics again from bullshits.
Of course Modi and Nitish dont. But Tejashwi Yadav does understand.
Why? Because he failed to clear Class 12 board exams despite multiple attempts. And if we are to believe RJD leaders, he is well on his way to be the next Kalidasa.
Dear Swagat Singhji
Tejashwi is definitely inspired by Fekendra Surrender Modi. He understands that Hard work and not Harward is important as said by Fekendra! So don’t worry about his education!