Modi agrees with Nitish, takes a dig at Lalu for stalling rail projects initiated by Vajpayee government

Patna: Sounding the bugle for the Bihar Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took a dig at Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad for stalling railway projects during his tenure as the Union minister.

Backing Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Modi said, "I agree with Nitish Kumar. Railway Ministers after Nitish Kumar did not work and stalled projects initiated by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government."

Lalu was the Railway Minister in the Congress-led UPA government from 2004-2009.

Sharing the dais with his arch-rival Nitish, Modi said, "My aim is Bihar's development and the country cannot progress without the state's development."

Vowing to fulfil all his promises made to the people of Bihar, Modi said, "I will fulfil all my promises made to Bihar people and will make announcement at the right time. I have also realised that Rs 50,000 crore is not enough for Bihar's development."

In an another attempt to woo people, Modi said, "Like Nitish Kumar said "Modji we have hopes on you". Bihar will be allotted Rs 3.75 lakh crore from 2015-20 because we want the state to progress."

Modi also launched Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana for power sector reforms in Patna and flagged off Daniyawa-Biharsharif railway line and Patna-Mumbai AC express.

Modi will address a mega rally in Muzaffarpur district and is likely to announce a special economic package for Bihar and share his vision for the state.

All Central Ministers from Bihar are likely to be present on the dais along with members of the National Democratic Alliance, including Union Ministers Ramvilas Paswan, Upendra Kushwaha and former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.

The BJP is bringing out the big guns to boost its chances in the state and after party President Amit Shah sounded the poll bugle last week.

"Modi arrived at the Patna airport by a special Indian Air Force aircraft," Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Vikash Vaibhav said.

He was received by Governor KN Tripathi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Nearly 2,000 policemen have been deployed here for Modi's security.

Tight security arrangements were made after the intelligence agencies warned of a possible "human bomb attack" on Modi on the lines of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, a top police officer said.