Modi Blames RJD-Congress for “Decades of Neglect” in Bihar’s Kosi Region

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the previous RJD-Congress governments of neglecting Bihar’s Kosi region for over a decade, saying their political mismanagement and lack of vision deprived the people of the area of development opportunities.

Addressing a massive election rally here, Modi said the neglect of Saharsa, Purnea, Supaul, Araria and Madhepura districts had long been a cause of concern for the people of the region.

The first government to recognise the suffering and neglect of the Kosi region was Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s NDA government, he said, adding that in 2003, the Vajpayee government laid the foundation stone for the Kosi Bridge, a crucial step for the region’s progress.

The Prime Minister alleged that although the Kosi Bridge was initiated under Vajpayee’s government, its progress came to a halt when the RJD-Congress alliance returned to power at the Centre.

He said in 2004, the Vajpayee government was replaced, and the Congress came to power under Manmohan Singh with RJD’s support. After losing power in Bihar in 2005, the RJD tried to pressurise the Centre to stall development in the state. As a result, the construction of the Kosi Bridge was completely stopped, Modi alleged.

He further added that when the NDA government took charge in 2014, work on the bridge resumed and was finally inaugurated in 2020.

“For 17 years, the people of Kosi waited for this bridge to be completed. Due to the neglect and politics of the RJD-Congress governments, a project that could have changed the face of the region was delayed for nearly two decades,” he said.

Modi highlighted the significance of the bridge, noting that it has reduced the distance between many areas of Kosi and Mithila by almost 300 kilometers, transforming connectivity and economic prospects in the region.

Speaking on the recurring issue of floods in the Kosi basin, the Prime Minister said his government has approved projects worth Rs 11,000 crore to mitigate the problem.

The Kosi, Bagmati and Gandak basins are being developed to create a protective shield against floods and what was once a curse is now being turned into a blessing, he claimed. The same water that once caused devastation will now irrigate nearly two lakh hectares of farmland, he said.

Modi added that the government’s initiatives would not only protect lives but also revitalise agriculture and livelihoods. The water of Kosi will now bring prosperity ,it will support makhana farming and provide opportunities for fish cultivation, he said.

Expressing happiness over being welcomed with a garland made of makhana, the Prime Minister said that makhana is no longer just a product of Bihar but is now finding a place in kitchens across the world. "Whenever I visit foreign countries, I gift packets of makhana to world leaders,” he said.

He said that makhana cultivation and fisheries would change the destiny of the Mithila and Kosi regions. A Makhana Board has already been set up to promote global expansion of the product, while the ‘Jubba Sahni Matsya Protsahan Yojana’ is providing financial support of Rs 9,000 to fishermen, Modi stated.

Highlighting the government’s focus on the fisheries sector, he said, it was NDA government that created a separate Ministry of Fisheries for the first time in India. The results are visible as Bihar, which once imported fish, is now exporting it, he said.

The Prime Minister said that the NDA’s consistent efforts have laid the foundation for the transformation of the Kosi region from being known for floods and migration to becoming a hub of agriculture, trade and entrepreneurship.

“The RJD-Congress alliance kept Kosi in darkness for years. But today, this region is moving toward progress, connectivity, and prosperity,” Modi said, urging voters to support the NDA in the upcoming elections to ensure continuity of development and “restore Bihar’s pride and progress.”