During a virtual address on Saturday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah issued a stern warning to voters in Bihar, asserting that the state risked a return to “jungle raj” should the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) regain power. Shah, who was originally scheduled to speak at an election rally in Gopalganj but was prevented by adverse weather, connected the RJD’s potential return to the past “high-handedness” associated with Sadhu Yadav, the estranged brother of former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi.
Emphasizing the stakes of the upcoming polls, he stated, “This election is a pivotal moment for Bihar to choose its future leadership. On one side, there are those who brought about ‘jungle raj’. On the other, we have the partnership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar, dedicated to driving development.”
Shah specifically highlighted Gopalganj, noting, “The people of Gopalganj have consistently rejected the RJD since 2002, and I trust they will maintain this stance. No one understands the past transgressions (kaarnaame) of Sadhu Yadav better than the residents of Gopalganj.”
Sadhu Yadav, a former MLA and MP from Gopalganj, was known for his significant influence during his sister’s tenure as Chief Minister. Shah alluded to incidents such as the alleged forceful seizure of cars from a showroom during Misa Bharti’s wedding in 1999, an event also referenced by PM Modi without explicit names earlier in the week. The Home Minister also brought up the Shilpi Gautam murder case from the same year, noting recent allegations by Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor against Samrat Choudhary, then an RJD leader and now the state’s Deputy Chief Minister.
Furthermore, Shah recalled the dark period of RJD rule, citing numerous massacres in central Bihar villages during an era marked by brutal conflicts between Naxal groups and upper-caste landlord militias.
In his concise five-minute address, Shah also reiterated key pledges from the ruling NDA’s recently released manifesto. He highlighted two primary commitments: support for farmers and women. “Nitish Kumar and PM Modi have recently disbursed ₹10,000 into the accounts of 1.41 crore ‘Jeevika Didis’ (self-help group members). Our plan is to further extend up to ₹2 lakh to each Jeevika Didi through various initiatives. Additionally, we currently provide ₹6,000 annually to 27 lakh Bihar farmers, and we will increase this to ₹9,000,” he announced.
He concluded by promising the revitalization of all sugar mills across the state within the next five years.