New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a fierce political offensive in Bihar on Thursday, accusing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of insulting the Chhath Puja festival and questioning his understanding of Indian traditions. Addressing rallies across Patna, Nalanda, Lakhisarai, and Munger, Shah said that Gandhi’s alleged remarks on Chhath worship showed “disrespect” to Indian culture and predicted that the INDIA bloc would face a complete rout in the upcoming state elections.
Shah claimed that the people of Bihar would “teach a lesson” to those who mocked their faith. He also accused Congress and its allies of repeatedly disregarding Hindu sentiments, recalling earlier instances where party members had allegedly spoken against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s family.
Turning to national issues, Shah said that the Congress had obstructed the Ram Temple movement for decades, while the Modi government fulfilled the 500-year-old dream by completing the Ayodhya temple. He also announced that Prime Minister Modi would perform the pran pratishtha ceremony at Punaura Dham, believed to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita, within two years as part of an ₹850 crore redevelopment initiative.
Praising Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Shah contrasted his administration with that of the RJD era, saying that the state had moved past the “jungle raj” marked by widespread crime and kidnappings. He claimed that under Nitish Kumar’s leadership, murders had fallen by 20 percent and dacoities and abductions by 80 percent.
Outlining the government’s development plans, Shah announced a medical college in Lakhisarai named after Bihar’s first Chief Minister Shri Krishna Sinha, major infrastructure investments worth ₹18 lakh crore, the revival of the Barauni fertiliser plant, and a ₹900 crore project package for Munger. He also said Katrani rice would receive a GI tag and that a Makhana Board would be established to boost exports.
Shah reaffirmed that the Modi government’s decisive actions from surgical strikes to the Balakot air operation—had made India more secure. He ended his address with a call to voters to support the NDA, asserting that Bihar’s progress and national security were safest under Modi and Nitish Kumar’s leadership.
