Prime Minister shares stage with Nitish Kumar

Patna, Oct 14 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi todayshared the stage with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar forthe first time after the the JD(U)...
Updated on: 
2 min read

Patna, Oct 14 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi todayshared the stage with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar forthe first time after the the JD(U) returned to the NDA fold.

Modi attended the centenary celebrations of the PatnaUniversity (PU) here along with Kumar.

"It is a day of great honour that Prime Minister NarendraModi is present for Patna University's centenarycelebrations," Kumar said addressing the gathering.

Earlier, the Prime Minister was welcomed by BiharGovernor Satya Pal Malik and the chief minister among othersat the Patna airport from where he drove straight to the PatnaScience College campus.

He will also launch development projects worth over Rs3,700 crore during his visit.

This is the prime minister's first full-fledged officialtour to the state since the BJP became a part of the rulingcoalition in Bihar in July this year after Kumar-led JD(U)snapped its alliance with Lalu Prasad's RJD and the Congress.

In August, Modi along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumarhad made an aerial survey of the flood-hit districts of Bihar.

The prime minister had promised a "package" of Rs 1.25lakh crore in 2015 for the state during the campaign for theassembly elections in which the BJP and the JD(U) were pittedagainst each other.

The two parties remained partners in Bihar for 17 yearsbut the JD(U) severed ties in mid-2013 over elevation of Modias BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who was among thedignitaries at the PU function today, told reporters, "I amnot here as a minister but as a proud alumnus of this gloriousuniversity. And I am proud that the Prime Minister of thecountry is attending a function at my alma mater".

Other Union Ministers present at the ceremony includedRam Vilas Paswan, Ashwini Chaubey and Upendra Kushwaha.

After attending the Patna University function, the primeminister will fly to Mokama, which is in Patna district about100 km from the capital city. Modi will launch a number ofdevelopment projects there.

The state BJP president has been hinting that a bonanzawas on the cards, terming the prime minister's visit as a"Diwali gift" to the people of Bihar in general and Mokama inparticular.

At Mokama, Modi will lay the foundation stone of four Rsnational highways projects worth 3,031 crore.

Construction of four sewage treatment plants (STPs) andrelated works worth Rs 738.04 crore will also begin, anofficial statement said.

Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari, who alsoholds the portfolio of water resources, will accompany theprime minister for the ceremony. PTI NAC/JCRT.

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.

Related Stories

No stories found.

X
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com