India PM promises billions to Bihar as elections loom
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PATNA: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took his political campaign to the impoverished state of Bihar, promising billions of dollars for infrastructure projects as he seeks to win support ahead of crucial elections there.
Modi committed to allocate funds amounting to some $5.8 billion over five years to help develop the eastern state, as he addressed a gathering in the state capital Patna.
The Hindu nationalist premier also launched railway, highway, gas and energy projects, already approved by the central government, before inaugurating a premier engineering college. The state goes to polls in November.
"We believe that states must progress. The gas pipeline and rail projects would lead to development and improve the quality of life of the people in the state," he said.
Read More: Modi tries to get India’s railways back on track
Modi's right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to power last May, pledging to reform and revive a flagging economy.
While the BJP has a majority in the lower house of the parliament, it has only about a quarter of the 245 members in the upper house, where seats are distributed based on the strength of political parties in state assemblies.
That has allowed the opposition parties to block the government's critical land, taxation and other legislative reforms needed to overhaul the economy.
Bihar, India's third-most populous state, has never been ruled by BJP on its own with elections being traditionally won by regional parties and alliances.
Two powerful local leaders in Bihar ─ Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav ─ recently buried their differences to take on the BJP in the elections.
Taking a swipe at his rivals, Modi, 64, said development in Bihar should not be held hostage by petty politics.
Read More: BJP vs regional Indian leaders
"We have seen how much politics can harm development work. It's only the common people who suffer. Nothing should come in the way of development," he said.
Security was tight at the events that Modi attended in view of the bomb blasts that had killed six people during his public rally in Patna in 2013 shortly before he took the stage.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (67) Closed
Jul 25, 2015 04:42pm
The Modi mania is waning and Modi is increasingly desperate.
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Jul 25, 2015 04:57pm
@Safwan I think you didn't follow recently concluded legislative council election in Bihar where NDA won 14 seats out of 24, Cong 0, JDU 9, Others 1.
In Bihar, BJP is fighting against all party which tells who is desperate.
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Jul 25, 2015 04:57pm
Good initiative Modi
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Jul 25, 2015 05:07pm
@SAFWAN, you are dreaming, his popularity is still intact. Because the people know the alternative to Modi is Rahul Gandhi and his cronies who have looted India for 60 years. People may not be fully satisfied with Modi, but they are definitely not unhappy either compared to everyday scam government Congress ran.
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Jul 25, 2015 05:24pm
@Safwan... Does that make you happy? Are you threatened by MOdi's popularity in India?
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Jul 25, 2015 05:43pm
we biharis are done with nitish and laalo yadav...wants BJP in our state
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Jul 25, 2015 06:24pm
Bihar state is set to get 50,000 crore($8 Billion) in this year and 3.45 lakh crore($56 Billion) in various schemes, which is promised by pm modi.
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Jul 25, 2015 06:30pm
One of the biggest fault-lines in India, has been its regionalism. Many states consider themselves a nation in itself. The regional politics have always been driven around, divisive, tribal and racist mindset, with gloating over regional, linguistic sub-nationalism. Regional identities are fine, but they must not be a roadblock in building India as a nation.
In politics, regional parties always harmed national polity. More they harmed the national interest, more successful they considered themselves.
Any Indian, if he has a vision and intelligence, shall not vote for any regional party. We can either succeed together, or we shall fail together. But it should not be one against another. First thing is - India. Our first identity is that we are Indians. Everything else comes later. Adopt the bigger picture and leave behind small, petty and tribal identities. I would ask indians to vote for India. To vote for nationalism. To vote for BJP.
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Jul 25, 2015 06:41pm
sad to see IMPOVERISHED prefixed with my home state..
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Jul 25, 2015 06:42pm
"We have seen how much politics can harm development work. It's only the common people who suffer. Nothing should come in the way of development,"
That reflects the intentions & pain from an honest to the core PM of India ,for the under developed people in the country.
You will see a changed India in the next 5/10 years as
people need jobs & self reliance and not the kind of lollypops .polticians like Lalu Yadav offer.
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Jul 25, 2015 06:46pm
Many were suspicious about modi 1 year back but now he is getting support from the sections which are not supposed to support modi. Only reason of this support is his development work. In Bihar rjd,jdu and congress only plays vote bank politics. People have realized that if good roads , electricity, infrastructure is provided by the central government then this facilities are enjoyed by every section of people not only by a particular section then why not support the people whose main target is development. Why put religion and cast everywhere.??
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Jul 25, 2015 06:47pm
@Safwan don't worry u won't get this kinda promise from your leaders....!!!
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Jul 25, 2015 06:53pm
Before calling Bihar impoverished lok at your Pakistan. Bihar in itself is better than Pakistan in every aspect and may BJP win the elections in Bihar.
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Jul 25, 2015 07:05pm
Modi needs to privatize all government services and schemes. Socialist aid giving has not worked out. Let there be competition even in providing basic services. Indians are good entrepreneurs. No more free giving, even to the poorest of the poor. If there is aid, it should be directly given to the recipient and with full accountability of the intended results. Modi is excellent administrator. Local Bihari Modi is also much better than the alternatives like Lalus & Niteshes. Modi needs to clean BJP so that his policies and hard work reaches the masses.
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Jul 25, 2015 07:17pm
@Usha - Modi needs to do this....Modi needs to do that...this and that, and some more. Wow..! If Modi only will do everything ..then what will we do?
Nobody alone can clean-up anything; be it a political party or society. It comes from people. Development happens bottom-up, not top-down. We are lucky that at least our center is corruption free. Its a great opportunity for us people, to make our local surroundings also corruption free.
As are people...so is their govt. When we as people get better....our govt will get better. Not other way round.
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Jul 25, 2015 07:19pm
@Ajay vikram Singh
and Handover the country to Business families that control BJP. It took India 60 years to to trust BJP. That too because of Congress corruption. Lets see how long it lasts. BJP is never for poor, middle class. " Middle Class will decide the future"
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Jul 25, 2015 07:31pm
Billions? Really? Where this come from? Aid from America? EU? Japan? India has a 110% Debt to GDP ratio. Higher than Greece.
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Jul 25, 2015 07:32pm
@Rohit No I am threatened by him, but yeah that does make me happy.
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Jul 25, 2015 07:35pm
@Nathnpal - 60 years is a very short time in life of a nation. Congress mostly ruled India, because it was the only "national level" party, with a legacy of Gandhi and pandit Nehru. It had a nation wide appeal, in a new born nation. First time, it has a real competition and it failed.
I dont much care about parties and cults of personalities. It doesnt matter what you call it, and who are leaders. All i am interested in is - Who's ready to work for my nation, with honesty and integrity. Thats all. if tomorrow, some TJP party does it, i am fine with it also. if tomorrow, instead of Modi, his name is Lodhi...more than welcome.
BJP is owned by some business families - Sounds like conspiracy theory to me.
Middle class will decide our future - Its a good sign. Educated Middle class traditionally always favored BJP. Its the illiterate rural folks, and "reservation" category backward people, who have been Congress and regional parties' vote banks.
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Jul 25, 2015 07:39pm
@Blue Saffron - We can pay off our debt, with only 0.1% of our gold reserves. Dont worry about that. Indian economics ( and culture) is way too complicated and advanced, than these simpleton theories.
Just give us 50 more years, and we will be the world's wealthiest society, as we have always been in the history. Its our nature to be - cultured, peaceful and wealthy.
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Jul 25, 2015 07:41pm
@Nathnpal Have you seen Mumbai's privatized Chatrapati Shivaji Airport? Visit even the toilets there. The airport is bestest of the best in the world. Visit privatized passport offices. Service is comparable or better than US. Same privatization needs to happen in primary education with governmental oversight and hard quantifiable bench marks, state transport, water distribution, garbage collection and sewage treatment. License Raj of 65 years was crony capitalism. No body is saying give permanent contracts or exclusive licences. Let TCS, Infosys, Wipro and smaller players manage Passport offices and compete with each others. If a private company slacks in providing services then it needs to be shown door. Key change is Competition and accountability.
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Jul 25, 2015 07:52pm
@Blue Saffron : India has total annual budget of around 700bn $ so don't worry money not the problem here but the implementation of various schemes is the issue.
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Jul 25, 2015 07:59pm
Wrong Figure : $ 5.8 Billion .The real figure is $ 58 Billions USD i.e 400,000 crore rupees.
Modi committed to allocate funds amounting to some $5.8 billion over five years to help develop the eastern state, as he addressed a gathering in the state capital Patna.
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Jul 25, 2015 08:04pm
HE HAS NOT PAID US$ 1 billion to Nepal forc eathquack victims as promised. Now you people of Bihar wait for you turn.
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Jul 25, 2015 08:46pm
@Kamal Pasha he has already released $1 billion and promised 1 billion more for infrastructure development of quake hit Nepal. Plz correct your general knowledge.
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Jul 25, 2015 08:47pm
@Kamal Pasha Don't worry ab8 us. Clean your backyard
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Jul 25, 2015 08:55pm
@Rohit "Are you threatened by MOdi's popularity in India?"
I would really like to know why do you think like that, please reply...
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Jul 25, 2015 09:23pm
The recent trends shows that BJP will win in the upcoming Bihar election. One more fether in Modi ' s hat.
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Jul 25, 2015 09:43pm
@sana - Nobody is threatened by no one here. haters will keep hating. Ignore the stupidity and negativity, Sana. Cheers!
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Jul 25, 2015 09:44pm
@Blue Saffron we launch sattelite for that.
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Jul 25, 2015 09:50pm
Bihar will remain the same, what it was during Laloo Prasad Yadav, corruption and caste politics.
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Jul 25, 2015 10:14pm
@Blue Saffron : " India has a 110% Debt to GDP ratio. Higher than Greece."
India's debt/gdp is 23%, Greece is 175%. China's is 38%, US 110% & UK 405%. Check facts before commenting.
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Jul 25, 2015 10:24pm
@Blue Saffron - India no longer accepts aid from foreign nations. It is a self sufficient country. Kudos to Modi for helping the common Indian out of poverty. He will make India stronger and more cohesive.
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Jul 25, 2015 10:41pm
@Blue Saffron
What is Greece,Pakistan's and India's economy.
Indian economy is Pakistani and Greek economy out together.
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Jul 25, 2015 10:49pm
The right wing Indian Muslims voting pattern in recent Delhi elections by block voting against BJP,they will develop the same mode do their at most to
ensure that the BJP does not win in Bihar
BJP is no doubt mindful of that,if not they ought to be.
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Jul 25, 2015 11:01pm
@Usha Narendra Modi has asked the wealthy to give up cooking gas subsidies,he has asked the citizens to pitch and clean up India.
Nowadays,factories are smart and intelligent with computer controlled machines giving great flexibility and control over a number of manufacturing processes happening all at once.They are "interconnected" with nearby factories too.
The citizens of India must pitch in and "interconnect" in as many ways as possible to smoothen transactions all across the spectrum of government- citizen interfacing much like the ultra modern factories...
Narendra Modi is on the right track and his appeals to citizens must be listened to ..and make India a super-efficient country.
The mood in India is upbeat,the population is young and eager, looking for a good life, and there is an EXCELLENT government and a leader at the helm.
Let us see what happens?:):)
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Jul 25, 2015 11:02pm
I live in karachi but my uncles and almost all the relatives in bihar.People support and back laloo prasad yadav and nitish kumar.Modi would not be welcomed much.
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Jul 25, 2015 11:06pm
@Safwan The Germans and the Japanese cleaned up and rebuilt their countries after WWII.
So did other Europeans. . Koreans and Chinese followed suit.
India is trying to do the same.
The common denominator here is human grit and enterprise.
Once Pakistanis learn to ADMIRE good things wherever and whenever they happen...they can think of EMULATION!:)
Putting down Narendra Modi after he has DEMONSTRATED his abilities and grit is not quite nice right?:):)
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Jul 25, 2015 11:11pm
Bihar was a " golden bird" at one point of time in history.
Selenius Nicator a Greek, had written about it during times of Alexander the Great.
It is set to happen again soon. Good luck Narendra Modi.:):):)
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Jul 25, 2015 11:13pm
@Ajay vikram Singh rightly said.
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Jul 25, 2015 11:22pm
@Kamal Pasha go and get the nepal news channel u find that the amount already in nepal govt accounts
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Jul 25, 2015 11:24pm
@Blue Saffron ha ha ha..even USA has greater debt to GDP ratio than India..its not a lay man's cup of tea to understand economics.India is 3 trillions dollar economy..just understand this..its enough :-)
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Jul 25, 2015 11:32pm
@Blue Saffron Please verify your facts.
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Jul 25, 2015 11:35pm
Give this committed man a chance .
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Jul 25, 2015 11:39pm
@Usha ....well said. Corruption in Government run services is rampant. Competitive Privatisation is the answer.
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Jul 25, 2015 11:51pm
Look at India's 3% GDP. Half of that is due to American aid. Source: OECD: Call centers, H1B visas, food donations, technological aid for energy needs, military aid, low or no interest loans ... Highest of any country, outright financial aid, PR aid, job creation aid....... AID AID AID and more AID.
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Jul 26, 2015 02:05am
@Blue Saffron , Agree with you. According to a recently published report, india is the biggest receiver of US Aid in last 66 years. Ahead of Israel, UK, and even Pakistan.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1194228
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Jul 26, 2015 02:30am
Modi is safe and sound.
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Jul 26, 2015 02:36am
Just understand this. 10 years of Congress Government under Sonia Maid resulted in 90% corruption and 10% progress. Within just over an year BJP Government has 20% corruption and 80% progress. That is 8 times more progress under Modi. Would anyone wants to go back to Congress and Rahul who does not even know what progress means.
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Jul 26, 2015 03:04am
Golden opportunity for Bihar to demand and vote for BJP and become showcase to the world that Biharis have decided to go on the path of development and progress...Aur ek baar Jo Bihari ne commitment de dee tho phir vo khud kee bhee nahee sunega....Throw away parties who have divided you using regionalism and have NOT shown path of development &progress...Show the power on your finger...Best wishes and Bharat truly believes next decade will be Bihar's and it will restore all its past glories.
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Jul 26, 2015 03:38am
i am bit surprised on the Pakistani commentators here in the blog, y r u ppl worried abt wat modi is giving to bihar. aren't there enough prblms in ur own country nd u r debating upon wat modi is giving or nt giving to an indian state.
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Jul 26, 2015 06:04am
Why is modi offering money at the time of elections. Is this not political bribe, you vote BJP i will give you 5.8 b. What if they do not vote to modi. Will he go and offer same money to other states. Its shame.
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Jul 26, 2015 06:05am
As an outsider, it looks like BJP is trying to buy votes.
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Jul 26, 2015 06:10am
@Kuber Karol
The most entertaining comments are like yours. You have absolutely no understanding of Pakistan, and you greatly exaggerate how advanced India is in comparison. Don't forget: Until as recent as 2009, Pakistan had a higher per capita income. Even now the difference is only a few hundred dollars - the cost of a nice pair of shoes in the West.
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Jul 26, 2015 06:36am
Promising billions by political parties at the time of election is part of rigging. The same tricks have also been in use in Pakistan.
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Jul 26, 2015 07:50am
Promise them anything, but give them flowers.
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Jul 26, 2015 09:05am
@Blue Saffron Come on !! Higher than Greece ? Nothing is higher than Greece. Greece's debt is a whopping 177 % of it GDP. Get your facts.
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Jul 26, 2015 10:23am
Modi is in a mission. And the whole world watches it like Hollywood movie..
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Jul 26, 2015 10:42am
@shani bro those AID recvd by NGOs they actualy works agnst country's interest.... We r going to ban all foreign funded Illigal NGOs don't worry.
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Jul 26, 2015 10:58am
@Blue Saffron
Plz correct your stats. Its not 110 but 65.5 as on Dec 2014.
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Jul 26, 2015 11:03am
@Blue Saffron again bogus. Check google for DGDPR. Pakistan is in much worst situation, not India and China.
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Jul 26, 2015 11:03am
Bihar is the only state of British India whose residents live in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. While I am not sure about the condition of Biharis living in Pakistan and Bangladesh but Biharis in India are having a great time under Narendra Modi.
Modi cleared 3 Rail cum Road bridges in Bihar over river Ganga worth billions of Dollars. Britishers were biased. They built 3 in UP but none in Bihar.
Proud to be a Bihari!
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Jul 26, 2015 11:15am
@Blue Saffron it comes from global investors to the tune of USD 5 billion each week. Use google right away !! The two bills blocked by political opposition on Farmers' land acquisition and GST which is regarding tax has dried it up drastically over past three months. Once cleared you will witness change for the better...
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Jul 26, 2015 01:17pm
@Blue Saffron India's debt is 22.37 billion, much less than US EU UK. (as per Wikipedia)
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Jul 26, 2015 01:19pm
@Usha Tata already manages Passport services in Delhi and delivers within 15 days.
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Jul 26, 2015 01:23pm
@Kamal Pasha It is slightly delayed, probably, because Nepal govt. did not know how to behave with someone who was there to help Nepal.
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Jul 26, 2015 02:21pm
@Ridwan Is USD your local curreny?
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