I provided electricity but Narendra Modi reaped votes: Nitish Kumar

Madhepura, Dec 20: Senior JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi played smart by reaping benefits of hard work Kumar had done in enhancing electricity supply in Bihar.

"Through hard work I ensured electricity in households for greater hours which facilitated watching television for a longer duration. And by placing lofty advertisements on the same TV channels, Narendra Modi managed to take voters for a ride and won in the state in Parliamentary poll," Kumar said at an election rally as part of "Samparak yatra" here.

"Bijli diye hum aur vote le gaye yoh (I provided electricity but he took away votes)," Kumar said in a lighter vein. Kumar resigned from Chief Minister post in May this year in the wake of JD(U) receiving severe drubbing in the general election.

BJP led NDA won 31 out of 40 seats in Bihar. JD(U) President Sharad Yadav, who had lost Lok Sabha election from Madhepura to RJD Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, was scheduled to attend the political meeting as part of Samparak Yatra but could not come from the state capital due to early morning fog.

Kumar: Centre has lowered fund allocation in Indira Awas and MGNREGA schemes

Referring to issue of conversions which has created a logjam in the Parliament, Kumar charged the BJP with intimidating majority Hindus by showing fear of minorities. "Through showing fear of 15 per cent minorities the BJP is frightening 85 per cent Hindus for the sake of votes," he said.

"They do not have any other agenda," he said in an apparent dig at BJP. Kumar said he apprehends BJP triggering communal tension in Bihar ahead of Assembly election next year and appealed to JD(U) workers to be prepared to thwart their "evil design."

Accompanied by state minister Vijay Chaudhary, Kumar played audio tape of Narendra Modi's speech during poll on promise to bring back black money into the country and providing special status and paying special attention to Bihar after coming to power.

"Has 15-20 lakh rupees which Narendra Modi promised to deposit in the bank account of every poor come?" he questioned. "Instead of giving special status to Bihar or paying special attention, the Centre has lowered fund allocation in Indira Awas and MGNREGA schemes," he said.

PTI