Modi Shares The Stage With Bihar CM Nitish Kumar At Patna Univ

October 14, 2017 16:54

Modi Shares The Stage With Bihar CM Nitish Kumar At Patna Univ:- Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared the stage with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, after the JD (U) returned to the NDA fold.

The centenary celebrations of the Patna University (PU) were attended by Modi along with Kumar. “It is a day of great honor that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is present for Patna University’s centenary celebrations,” Kumar said addressing the gathering.

Patna University Centenary Celebrations

(Image Source: NDTV)

Earlier, Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik and the chief minister among others welcomed the Prime Minister at the Patna airport from where he drove straight to the Patna Science College campus. During his visit, development projects worth Rs 3,700 crore would be launched by the Prime Minister.

(Video Source: Bharatiya Janata Party)

Since the BJP became a part of the ruling coalition in Bihar in July this year, this is the prime minister’s first full-fledged official tour to the state, after Kumar-led JD(U) snapped its alliance with Lalu Prasad’s RJD and the Congress. An aerial survey of the flood-hit districts of Bihar was done by Modi along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in August.

In 2015, during the campaign for the assembly elections, a “package” of Rs 1.25 lakh crore was promised by the Prime Minister for the state. The BJP and the JD(U) were pitted against each other in the elections. For almost 17 years, the two parties remained partners in Bihar, but in mid-2013, the JD(U) severed ties over elevation of Modi as BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who was among the dignitaries at the PU function today, told reporters, “I am not here as a minister but as a proud alumnus of this glorious university. And I am proud that the Prime Minister of the country is attending a function at my alma mater”. Ram Vilas Paswan, Ashwini Chaubey and Upendra Kushwaha were among the other Union Ministers who were present at the ceremony.

The Prime Minister will fly to Mokama, after attending the Patna University function. Mokama is in Patna district about 100 km from the capital city. A number of development projects there by Modi. A bonanza was on the cards was hinted by the state BJP president. The prime minister’s visit was termed as a “Diwali gift” by Prasad, to the people of Bihar in general and Mokama in particular. Modi will lay the foundation stone of four Rs national highways projects worth 3,031 crore, at Mokama.

An official statement said, the construction of four sewage treatment plants (STPs) and related works worth Rs 738.04 crore will also start. The prime minister will also be accompanied by Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari for the ceremony. Gadkari holds the portfolio of water resources.

SUPRAJA