PATNA: Lalu Yadav today offered some advice, unsolicited of course, to Prime Minister Narenda Modi who announced a
1.25 lakh crore rupee mega package for Bihar yesterday.
"My advice to Modiji is that he must not shout too much, else he may burst a vein," said Mr Yadav, a former Bihar chief minister, on stage at a public function at Patna's Sri Krishna Memorial Hall.
Then, Mr Yadav mimicked the way PM Modi had announced the package yesterday, drawing much laughter from his audience of about a 1,000 people.
Lalu Yadav's bitter-rival-turned-partner
Nitish Kumar had offered lacerating criticism of Mr Modi's announcement, yesterday asking if he was "bidding for Bihar?"
Today, Mr Kumar was in Delhi, where he shared stage with his new friend Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who said, "If PM Modi has so much money, he should give some to the soldiers fasting for One Rank One Pension at Jantar Mantar"
Mr Modi had made his announcement dramatically at a government function in Bihar's Arrah yesterday, interacting with the cheering crowds gathered to hear him speak. "I am here today to honour my promise... how much do you want?" the PM said and then, "Rs 50,000 crore, 60,000, 70,000, 75,000, 80,000? I am announcing a package of Rs 1.25 lakh crore."
The timing of his announcement, made just ahead of the Bihar elections due by November, too has been criticised by political rivals. The Congress' Rahul Gandhi said PM Modi was "losing credibility" by making fresh promises without fulfilling older ones
Lalu Yadav said today, "I don't think Mr Modi can make a fool out of Biharis. Let him first tell us where the money is going to come from. Let him give us deadlines. All this shouting will be of no help."
PM Modi's party the BJP assesses that the announcement of central funds will give it a strategic advantage in the Bihar elections. It takes on a coalition made up of Lalu Yadav's RJD, Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and the Congress.