Bihar polls: TN CM Stalin accuses Modi of stoking regional tensions, ‘forgetting’ dignity of office

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of stoking regional tensions and “forgetting” the dignity of his office during the Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar.

Sharing a video clip on social media of Modi's speech from a rally in Bihar's Chhapra on Thursday, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief condemned the BJP for “expressing their hatred” towards Tamils for the sake of election politics.

The Assembly elections in Bihar will take place in two phases on November 6 and November 11. The votes will be counted on November 14.

In his speech on Thursday, Modi accused Stalin's Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam of discriminating against migrants from Bihar, The Indian Express reported. He claimed that Congress leaders in Karnataka and Telangana had also insulted persons from Bihar.

The DMK and Congress are part of the Opposition INDIA bloc at the national level.

The Congress is fighting the Assembly elections in Bihar as part of the Mahagathbandhan alliance, which also comprises the Rashtriya Janata Dal, three Left parties, the Vikassheel Insaan Party and the Indian Inclusive Party.

The National Democratic Alliance in Bihar comprises the Janata Dal (United), the Bharatiya Janata Party and Union minister Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party. It also includes former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Morcha.

In his post on Friday, Stalin said: “As a Tamil person, I am pained to request Mr Narendra Modi that he often forgets that he is in the esteemed position of prime minister for all in this country, and that he should not lose the dignity befitting his responsibility through such statements.”

“I strongly condemn the BJP members for expressing their hatred towards Tamils for the sake of election politics,” he added.

Noting that India prides itself on multiculturalism and unity in diversity, Stalin urged Modi and the BJP “to stop such petty political practices as fostering enmity between Hindus and Muslims, and behaving in a way that creates enmity between Tamils and the people of Bihar”.

He asked them to focus on the welfare of the nation instead.

On Friday, Congress leader Ashok Gehlot claimed that the ruling National Democratic Alliance in Bihar released its manifesto for the Assembly elections in a press conference that lasted only 26 seconds due to the fear of facing questions from journalists, reported PTI.

The NDA released its joint manifesto for the elections earlier in the day. As part of its 25 key promises, the ruling alliance announced that it would provide more than one crore government jobs and employment opportunities to the residents, if it retains power.

The alliance also promised that members of occupational groups within the Extremely Backward Classes will receive assistance of up to Rs 10 lakh each. Among other development measures, it announced financial aid for one crore women under the Lakhpati Didi scheme and said that it would launch Mission Crorepati to support women entrepreneurs in cities.

During a press conference, Gehlot described the NDA manifesto as a “string of lies”. The Congress leader also questioned why Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, and not Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, spoke about the manifesto, The New Indian Express reported.

“Was he [Kumar] not in a position to speak about it?” the newspaper quoted Gehlot as asking.

Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh claimed that Kumar not being allowed to speak on the manifesto was disrespectful to Bihar and Biharis.

Source: Scroll
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