PM backs ‘criminal netas’ bill in Bihar, says no one should give orders from jail
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Gaya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday strongly pitched for a proposed law to bar individuals with criminal backgrounds from contesting elections, declaring that “no one can give orders from jail”. He accused rival parties in Bihar of reducing its people to a “vote bank” while neglecting their dignity, aspirations and development.
In a sharp attack on the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Modi referred to its rule as the “lantern era”, alleging that it had driven the state into darkness, lawlessness and backwardness. He argued that the same standards applied to ordinary citizens should also govern political leaders.
“If a government employee is imprisoned for 50 hours, then he loses his job automatically, be it a driver, a clerk or a peon. But a CM, a Minister, or even a PM can enjoy staying in the government even from jail... Some time ago, we saw how files were being signed from jail and how government orders were given from jail. If leaders have such an attitude, how can we fight corruption... NDA government has brought a law against corruption, and the Prime Minister also comes under its purview,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister’s remarks came during his visit to election-bound Bihar, where he inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth Rs 13,000 crore. These included the 660 MW Buxar thermal power plant, the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Muzaffarpur, a Rs 520 crore sewerage treatment plant in Munger, and urban projects worth Rs 1,260 crore.
Modi also launched infrastructure projects such as the Bakhtiyarpur-Mokama stretch of NH-31, the Bikramganj-Dumraon section of NH-120, and the 8.15 km Aunta-Simaria bridge over the Ganga, which will significantly reduce travel distance for heavy vehicles between north and south Bihar.
He flagged off two new train services, the Amrit Bharat Express between Gaya and Delhi, and the Buddhist Circuit Train connecting Vaishali in Bihar with Koderma in Jharkhand, and participated in a symbolic Grih Pravesh ceremony for 12,000 rural housing beneficiaries under the PM Awas Yojana.
This marked Modi’s 54th visit to Bihar and his seventh this year, which BJP leaders said reflected the government’s emphasis on the state’s development. His visit coincided with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections.
