Nitish, Modi Launch Counter-attack on the Opposition
Patna: Nov. 24, 2007
 Reacting to the widespread criticism by the opposition leaders, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, hours after releasing his report on developments in the state under the NDA rule on Saturday, blasted the opposition leaders of trying to create confusion about the government's achievements and being desperate to fan communal tension in Bihar.
"These are the same people who systematically destroyed Bihar during the 15 years of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) rule and laughed at the word 'development' saying developments did not translate into votes. Now that we have put Bihar solidly on the path of growth and prosperity, suddenly they have realized the importance of development," Kumar said at the inauguration of the new NDA office on Saturday.
"Serious attempts are being made to flare up communal tensions in Bihar but people are refusing to be fooled by these neo-progressives after being cheated and defrauded by them for 15 years," the Chief Minister said.
"They would not recognize development if development fell in their laps from the sky," he said.
Taking a dig at the RJD leader and former Chief Minister of Bihar Rabri Devi, Kumar said it was laughable that the woman who does not even step out of her posh bungalow was talking about what was happening under the NDA government.
Mocking the recently concluded 'Chetawani Rally' by the RJD, Kumar said the event was meant to be a warning for the NDA government but turned out to be a notice to their own existence.
The Chief Minister also accused the Lalu-Rabri government of protecting those responsible for the Bhagalpur riots.
"The chief accused in the Bhagalpur riots was walking shoulder-to-shoulder with Lalu Prasad Yadav who, instead of throwing books at him, honored him with awards at the Sonepur Fair. Can he explain why he was protecting a criminal?" the Chief Minister demanded to know.
Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said under the Lalu-Rabri rule, Bihar was known for crime and absence of any developmental work.
"Today the image of Bihar has changed. Crime has reduced substantially. Developments are taking place in all spheres. Still the opposition leaders refuse to open their eyes and look around themselves. I dare Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi to produce report cards of their own government that fooled Bihar for 15 long years. Let us find out what they did for Bihar," Modi said.
"The RJD leaders tried to give communal color to the Kajal murder case but the truth foiled their attempts and left them disoriented. Now they are working on their next plan to disturb peace in Bihar," the Deputy Chief Minister said.
Janata Dal (U) state president Rajiv Ranjan Singh, a.k.a., Lallan Singh also lashed out at the RJD leaders for continuing to downplay the achievements of the NDA government.
"Rabri Devi need to step out of her home to see what is going on in Bihar. Staying inside the comfort of her four walls is not going to help understand the development taking place under the leadership of Nitish Kumar.
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