PM’s Bihar Visit Falls Flat: Public Discontent Grows Amid Empty Promises
Arun Kumar Mishra
THE worst terrorist attack in the picturesque town of Pahalgam, Kashmir, claimed the lives of 26 innocent tourists who were there to enjoy the beauty of nature with their loved ones. One image in particular – of a newlywed woman sitting in shock beside the lifeless body of her husband – has seared itself into the nation’s collective memory and will haunt us for years to come.
In the wake of such a ghastly incident, the nation expected that the prime minister would immediately visit the site, and take decisive steps to bring the perpetrators to justice. Instead, he chose to rush to Bihar, where, addressing a mass meeting in Madhubani – notably in English – he thundered that those responsible for the attack would be hunted down and punished along with their backers, using the full might of the Indian state.
Subsequently, the attacks on nine terrorist hideouts inside Pakistan and the jingoistic atmosphere generated during this operation was utilised to stoke communal polarisation, with an eye on reaping political dividends in the upcoming Bihar elections.
It is no secret that Bihar, a key state in the Hindi heartland, has remained elusive for the BJP, which has so far failed to secure power there independently. The forthcoming election is expected to witness extensive political manoeuvring, with every communal and caste issue likely to be exploited by the BJP. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar now finds himself completely surrounded by BJP loyalists and is in no position to break away from the BJP.
The prime minister’s second visit to Bihar on May 29 made it amply clear that the upcoming election will be fought in his name. But the crucial question remains – does Modi still command the same charisma he once did? His recent rally in Patna, particularly the meeting in Vikram, has dampened the hopes of BJP and its supporters as he failed to generate enthusiasm even among their staunchest followers. The shock was further compounded by the unexpected ceasefire announcement made by US President Donald Trump, accompanied by a humiliating remark – one that the Indian government failed to contest in any bold or assertive manner.
Unanswered questions continue to linger over the downing of the Rafale jets. Meanwhile, the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack remain at large, rendering the prime minister’s grand declarations in Madhubani hollow and ineffective. The gap between rhetoric and reality has never been more evident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Patna on May 29 and inaugurated the newly constructed airport lounge. He was received at the airport by the governor and the chief minister, both of whom were present during the inauguration ceremony. The entire stretch from the airport to the BJP office was cordoned off. All the banners and hoardings adorning the route featured only the prime minister’s image – no other leaders were visible. People who had gathered in anticipation of seeing the prime minister were left disappointed, as he did not step out of his vehicle at any point during the drive. While flowers were showered at a few locations by BJP leaders and cadres, the presence of common people was sparse, and many appeared either disengaged or indifferent to the political spectacle.
There were no wild cheers, no waving of hands by the prime minister, and no sense of euphoria during the roadshow from the airport to the BJP office. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar did not accompany him in the roadshow. At the BJP office, all their party leaders, MPs, and MLAs, were in attendance where the sole agenda appeared to be focussing on winning the upcoming Bihar elections.
The mass meeting held on the second day also failed to attract large crowds and was widely seen as a managed affair. The prime minister’s announcement of Rs 50,000 crore worth of projects for Bihar was criticised as yet another “jumla” (empty promise). Most of the projects mentioned were already under construction, and no new schemes or fresh allocations were announced for the state.
Given the lack of public enthusiasm, the repetition of old promises, and the absence of any substantial response to pressing local issues, both visits by the prime minister can be described as flop shows. However, with elections on the horizon, more visits are expected. The people of Bihar, meanwhile, are preparing to raise long-standing demands, including:
· Granting special status to Bihar
· Recognition of Patna University as a Central University
· Fair compensation and consent-based process in cases of land acquisition
· Addressing the issues of migrant workers, scheme workers, and MNREGA beneficiaries
These issues were prominently raised by constituents of the Mahagathbandhan –including the RJD, Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), and VIP – during a joint press briefing following the prime minister’s visit.
Adding to the public anger is the recent rape and tragic death of a dalit girl in Muzaffarpur, due to negligence in her treatment at PMCH in Patna. The incident has sparked widespread protests across the state. The opposition and the general public have demanded the resignation of Bihar’s Health Minister Mangal Pandey, a BJP leader. While the government was forced to take action against some doctors at PMCH, it has so far refused to address the core demand for the minister’s resignation.
As discontent simmers, Bihar appears poised for a period of intense political churn. In the coming months, people across the state will march together to defeat the anti-people, anti-worker, anti-farmer, anti-women, anti-dalit, and communal government. The fight is not just electoral – it is for saving the Constitution and the democratic, secular character of the republic.
or reload the browser
