Opp leaders who attended Patna meet involved in scams worth ₹20 lakh cr: Amit Shah

Taking on Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar who organised the meeting, Shah said the people of the state will give a “befitting reply to corrupt leaders” in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls

Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday hit out at the Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar for becoming a “party of scammers”.

This is Shah’s fifth visit to Bihar since August last year, when the BJP was stripped of power in the state. (PTI photo)

The union home minister was addressing a rally at Lakhisarai in Munger parliamentary constituency, organised by the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) on the completion of nine years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government.

Taking a dig at the June 23 Opposition parties meeting, Shah said, “Bihar has always raised its voice against corruption. Opposition leaders who attended the June 23 meeting in Patna are involved in scams worth over ₹20 lakh crore… Bihar will give a befitting reply to corrupt leaders in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.”

Continuing his attack on Kumar, the union home minister, said that Kumar keeps on asking about work done by the Centre in the last nine years of Narendra Modi’s government.

“Nitish Kumar was asking what was done (by the Centre) in nine years. A lot of work was done by PM Modi across the country in these nine years,” said Shah before enumerating the benefits extended to state.

“These nine years have been years of India’s glory. Wherever PM Modi goes, be it the US or England or France or Egypt, you hear chants of ‘Modi, Modi’, “he said.

This is Shah’s fifth visit to Bihar since August last year, when the BJP was stripped of power in the state.

Upping his ante against Kumar, Shah asked the people how they would have faith in a person who keeps on changing his house frequently.

“You became CM while opposing Lalu Prasad’s animal husbandry scam. Can a leader who changes house again and again be trusted? Should the reins of Bihar be given in the hands of such a man? He too knows it. He has shunned all political principles,” said Shah.

Reacting on the union home minister’s comments, JD(U) called Shah’s announcements on work done in Bihar as a ‘bundle of lies.”

“He claimed that 1.60 lakh household in Bihar have been provided tap water connection through centre’s scheme. He can lie. All these work have been done by the state. The BJP is nervous. They are not going to win more than 100 Lok Sabha seats this time,” said JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan.