Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not implementing any of the electoral promises made by him.
Addressing an election meeting at Panoor in support of Congress-led UDF in the district, the JD(U) chief alleged that Modi was deceiving people by making mere promises.
"Modi and his friends made a lot of promises during the last Lok Sabha polls to the people of Bihar but after getting power, they forgot all the offers they had made," he said, adding, "Modi had adopted the same attitude towards Kerala as well".
Kumar said it was the Grand Alliance of JD(U) and Congress which implemented the promises made to the people of Bihar. The total prohibition which his government implemented in Bihar was for the welfare of the people.
Training his guns on the Left parties, he said CPI(M) and CPI took a stand in favour of BJP during the Bihar polls.
"CPI(M) was trying to help BJP in Kerala also as they did in Bihar," he charged.
He said, "The growth of BJP and communal forces in the state has to be viewed very seriously and it should be examined how this happened."
The state's strength was its secular character and growing influence of communal forces was an indication of impending danger to the state, he added.
Kumar also highlighted the various development initiatives taken by Congress-led UDF government during its five-year rule.
(REOPEN MDS10)
Earlier, addressing a press conference in Kozhikode, Nitish Kumar demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi spell out his government's stand on a national liquor policy.
"The Prime Minister should spell out his stand on implementation of total prohibition at national level and also in the states ruled by the BJP," he said.
Gujarat and two other northern states have imposed total prohibition.
Kumar recalled that it was during the tenure of Morarji Desai as Gujarat Chief Minister that a total ban on liquor was brought in the state.
In 1977, an effort was made to bring total prohibition in Bihar, but it failed due to some reasons, Kumar said.
"Now, Bihar has taken a bold step and people welcomed it with an open mind. Initially, we started closing country liquor shops. Then other liquor shops were also closed step by step and now the state has become completely liquor-free"
All parties had supported the move and vowed to persuade others to work for closing liquor shops in Bihar, he added.
In Tamil Nadu, all political parties were promising either a complete ban on liquor or implementation of prohibition in a phased manner if voted to power, "much to the relief of women and children," he said.
Kumar charged the BJP-led government at the Centre with "not fulfilling" any of its electoral promises.
"They don't believe in fulfilling any promises made. Like bringing back black money stashed outside the country and education for all have not been fulfilled".
To a question, he said the five-year UDF rule had seen a positive growth rate being maintained and development taking place in agriculture and power sectors.
Infrastructure development projects like Metro rail were being implemented at a faster pace, he said, adding, "they are going to impose liquor ban in a phased manner".
To a question on Chief Minister OommenChandy's speech that the fight was between BJP and UDF, Kumar said he was not aware of it and that he had gone there only to campaignfor UDF parties. BJP should not get any foothold in the state, he said.
"Scenarios change from state to state. We should thinkof the scenario at present", he said to aquestion on Congress aligning with Left parties inWest Bengal and coming together with JD(U) and RJD to form a grand alliance in Bihar, leaving out Left parties.
"Only to stop BJP from coming to power, we formed the grand alliance", he added.
Earlier, the JD(U) leader campaigned in three places in the district, seeking votes for UDF constituent parties.
He spoke at an election meeting at Wayanad this evening, canvassing support for Sreyamskumar, sitting MLA and son of JD(U) state presidentM P Veerendra Kumar and other also two UDF nominees.
