We bow to Gaya Ji, the world-renowned sacred city of knowledge and liberation.

On the glorious land of the Vishnupad Temple, I extend my greetings to all of you.

Hon’ble Governor of Bihar, Arif Mohammad Khan ji; the popular Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ji; my colleagues in the Union Cabinet, Jitan Ram Manjhi ji, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Chirag Paswan ji, Ram Nath Thakur ji, Nityanand Rai ji, Satish Chandra Dubey ji, Raj Bhushan Chaudhary ji; Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary ji and Vijay Kumar Sinha ji; Ministers of the Bihar Government; my fellow Parliamentarian Upendra Kushwaha ji; other MPs; and my dear brothers and sisters of Bihar!

This land of Gaya Ji is a land of spirituality and peace. It is the sacred land where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. The spiritual and cultural heritage of Gaya Ji is very ancient and immensely rich. The people here had wished that this city should not just be called Gaya, but Gaya Ji. I congratulate the Government of Bihar for this decision. I am glad that the double-engine government of Bihar is continuously working for the rapid development of Gaya Ji.

Brothers and sisters,

Even today, projects worth 12,000 crore rupees have either been inaugurated or their foundation stones laid on the same day from the sacred land of Gaya Ji. These include many major projects related to energy, healthcare, and urban development. These will strengthen Bihar’s industries and create new employment opportunities for the youth. I congratulate the people of Bihar for these projects. A new Hospital and Research Centre has also been inaugurated here today for better healthcare facilities in Bihar. Now, the people of Bihar will have another facility for cancer treatment.

Friends,

Bringing ease to the lives of the poor, and making the lives of women simpler—this is where I find the greatest satisfaction as a servant of the people. Just like giving a permanent home to the poor...

Friends,

I have a major resolve. Until every needy person has a permanent house of their own, Modi will not sit in peace. With this vision, more than 4 crore houses have been built and handed over to the poor over the last 11 years. In Bihar alone, over 38 lakh homes have been constructed. In Gaya district too, more than 2 lakh families have received their permanent homes. And we haven’t just given houses—that is, four walls—we have given the poor their dignity along with them. These homes come with facilities like electricity, water, toilets, and gas connections. In other words, poor families now have the guarantee of living with convenience, safety, and respect.

Friends,

Today, continuing this effort, more than 16,000 families from the Magadh region of Bihar have received their permanent homes. This means that the celebrations of Diwali and Chhath Puja will be even brighter for these families this year. I heartily congratulate all the beneficiary families who have received their homes. And for those who have not yet been able to benefit from the PM Awas Yojana, I want to assure you—the campaign for housing will continue until every poor person has a permanent home of their own.

Friends,

Bihar is the land of Chandragupta Maurya and Chanakya. Whenever Bharat has been challenged by an enemy, Bihar has stood as the nation’s shield. Every resolve taken on this land carries the strength of this soil, and every resolve taken here never goes in vain.

And that is why, brothers and sisters,

When the terrorist attack happened in Pahalgam, Kashmir, when our innocent citizens were killed after being asked about their religion, it was from this very land of Bihar that I had declared that terrorists would be reduced to dust. Today, the world is witnessing that the resolve taken from this land of Bihar has been fulfilled. You may recall—at that time Pakistan was sending drone attacks and launching missiles at us, while Bharat was shattering those Pakistani missiles in the air like straws. Not a single missile from Pakistan could harm us.

Friends,

Operation Sindoor has drawn a new line in Bharat’s defence policy. Now, no one will be able to send terrorists into Bharat and carry out attacks and get away with it. Even if terrorists try to hide underground, Bharat’s missiles will bury them there.

Friends,

The rapid development of Bihar is a very big priority for the NDA government at the Centre. That is why today Bihar is moving ahead on the path of all-round development. In the past years, old problems have been addressed, and new avenues of progress have been created. Remember how things used to be during the “lantern rule.” At that time this region was gripped by red terror. Because of Maoists, it was difficult to move around anywhere after sunset. Cities like Gaya Ji were plunged into darkness during the lantern rule. Thousands of villages didn’t even have electricity poles. The lantern regime pushed Bihar’s future into darkness. There was no education, no employment, and generations of people were forced to migrate from Bihar because of them.

Friends,

The RJD and its allies see the people of Bihar only as their vote bank. They have no concern for the joys, sorrows, dignity, or respect of the poor. You may recall that a Congress Chief Minister once openly declared from a stage that people from Bihar would not be allowed into his state. Such deep hatred of Congress towards the people of Bihar, such contempt—this can never be forgotten. Even after such mistreatment of the people of Bihar by the Congress, the RJD leaders remained in deep slumber.

Brothers and sisters,

The NDA government of Bihar is responding to this hateful campaign of Congress and the Indi alliance. We are working with the vision that sons and daughters of Bihar should find employment here itself, live lives of dignity here itself, and take care of their parents here itself. Now major projects are coming up in Bihar. In Dobhi of Gaya Ji district, the biggest industrial area of Bihar is being developed. A technology centre is also being established in Gaya Ji. Today itself, the Buxar Thermal Power Plant has been inaugurated. Just a few months ago, I laid the foundation stone for the Navinagar Super Thermal Power Project in Aurangabad. A new thermal power plant will also be built in Pirpainti, Bhagalpur. These power plants will increase the supply of electricity in Bihar. And you all know—what happens when electricity production increases? Electricity supply in homes increases, industries get more power, and this in turn creates new opportunities for employment.

Friends,

Nitish ji has launched a major campaign to provide secure government jobs to the youth of Bihar. It is because of Nitish ji that even the recruitment of teachers here has been carried out with full transparency.

Friends,

To ensure that the young people here get maximum employment opportunities within Bihar itself and are not forced to migrate in search of jobs, a new scheme of the Central Government will provide major support. Just last week, starting from this Independence Day on 15th August, the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana has been launched nationwide. Under this scheme, when our youth take up their first job in the private sector, the Central Government will directly provide them 15,000 rupees. Private companies that employ young people will also receive additional financial support from the government. My young brothers and sisters in Bihar will greatly benefit from this scheme.

Friends,

Whether it was Congress or RJD, their governments never understood the true value of people’s money. For them, public money only meant filling their own coffers. That is why during Congress-RJD governments, projects would remain incomplete for years. The longer a project was delayed, the more money they would siphon off. The NDA government has put an end to this wrong approach. Now, after the foundation stone is laid, efforts are made to complete the work as quickly as possible within the given timeframe. Today’s program is also a wonderful example of this. I was given the privilege of laying the foundation stone for the Aunta–Simaria section, and today, with your blessings and love, I have also been given the opportunity to inaugurate this bridge. This bridge will not only connect roads, but it will also unite North and South Bihar. Heavy vehicles which earlier had to take a 150-kilometer detour via Gandhi Setu will now have a direct route. This will speed up trade, empower industries, and make it easier for pilgrims to reach their destinations. When the NDA government lays the foundation for development projects, they are surely completed—this is guaranteed.

Friends,

The NDA’s double-engine government is also working rapidly on the development of the railways here. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, the Gaya Ji railway station is being modernized. This will provide passengers with facilities similar to those at an airport. Today, Gaya is a city that has the services of Rajdhani, Jan Shatabdi, and the indigenously built Vande Bharat trains. The direct connection from Gaya Ji, Sasaram, Prayagraj, and Kanpur to Delhi is opening up new opportunities for the youth, the farmers, and the traders of Bihar.

Brothers and sisters,

With your blessings, and because of the unwavering trust of the nation, my tenure of service that began in 2014 as Prime Minister is still continuing. In all these years, not a single stain of corruption has been put on our government. Whereas after independence, the Congress governments, which ruled for 60–65 years, have a long list of corruption cases. And as for RJD’s corruption—every child in Bihar knows about it. I firmly believe that if we want to take the fight against corruption to its logical conclusion, then no one should be kept outside its ambit. Think about it—today, the law says that if even a small government employee is kept in custody for 50 hours, he is automatically suspended. Be it a driver, a junior clerk, or a peon—his life gets ruined forever. But if someone is a Chief Minister, a Minister, or even a Prime Minister, he can still enjoy the pleasures of power even while sitting in jail. How can this be possible? We saw not long ago how files were being signed from jail, how government orders were being issued from inside the prison. If leaders continue to behave in this way, how can the fight against corruption ever be won?

Friends,

The Constitution expects honesty and transparency from every public representative. We cannot allow the dignity of the Constitution to be torn apart. That is why the NDA government has brought a law against corruption that includes even the Prime Minister within its ambit. This law also covers Chief Ministers and Ministers. Once this law comes into force, whether it is the Prime Minister, a Chief Minister, or any other Minister—they will have to secure bail within 30 days of arrest. And if bail is not granted, then on the 31st day they will have to vacate their office. Tell me, brothers—if someone goes to jail, should they not have to leave their post? Can they continue sitting on the chair? Can they sign government files from jail? Can anyone run a government from inside prison? And that is why we are moving ahead to make such a strict law.

But friends,

These RJD people, these Congress people, these Left people—they are opposing this law. They are furious. And who doesn’t know why? Those who have sinned, they may hide their crimes from others, but deep inside, they know what misdeeds they have committed. This is the story of all of them. These RJD and Congress leaders—some are out on bail and some are running around courts caught in railway scam. And those who are roaming free on bail today are the very ones opposing this law. They fear that if they land in jail, all their dreams will be shattered. That is why, day and night, they keep hurling all kinds of abuses at Modi. They are so agitated, so restless, that they are opposing this people-oriented law. Our Rajendra Babu, our Babasaheb Ambedkar could never have imagined, never even dreamed, that power-hungry leaders would indulge in corruption and still cling to their chairs even after going to jail. But now, the corrupt will go to jail, and their chair will also go. The resolve to make Bharat free from corruption belongs to crores of people of this nation. And this resolve will surely be fulfilled.

Friends,

From the Red Fort, I have spoken about another danger—and this danger is upon Bihar as well. The increasing number of infiltrators in the country is a matter of great concern. The demography is changing rapidly in the border districts of Bihar. That is why the NDA government has decided that the future of this country will not be allowed to be determined by infiltrators. We will not allow infiltrators to snatch away the jobs of Bihar’s youth. We will not allow infiltrators to loot the facilities that rightfully belong to the people of Bharat. To deal with this danger, I have announced the launch of the Demography Mission. Very soon, this mission will begin its work—and we will drive out every infiltrator from this country. Tell me—should these infiltrators be removed or not? Would you accept it if an infiltrator snatches away your job? Would you accept it if an infiltrator seizes your land? Would you accept it if an infiltrator takes away your rights? People of Bihar, beware of those within the country who support these infiltrators. Know very well who stands with the infiltrators. Parties like Congress and RJD want to deprive the people of Bihar of their rights and hand them over to infiltrators. For appeasement, for vote-bank politics, Congress and RJD can stoop to any level. That is why the people of Bihar must remain very vigilant.

Friends,

We must protect Bihar from the evil eye of Congress and RJD. This is a very crucial time for Bihar. For the dreams of Bihar’s youth to be fulfilled, for the aspirations of the people of Bihar to soar higher—the Central Government and Nitish ji are working shoulder to shoulder for the welfare of Bihar. To ensure that the pace of development continues in Bihar, the double-engine government is constantly striving. Today’s development projects are an important step in that direction. Once again, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Bihar for these projects. Say with me—

Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

Thank you very much.

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MJPS/VJ/VK