Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth nearly Rs 12,000 crore in Gaya, while asserting that the NDA government is committed to the rapid development of Bihar and the dignity of its people.
Addressing a public meeting, the Prime Minister said the projects spanned energy, road, healthcare and urban infrastructure, and would “strengthen Bihar’s industrial capacity and create new opportunities for youth”. Among the projects were the Buxar Thermal Power Plant, the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital in Muzaffarpur, a new six-lane bridge across the Ganga at Aunta–Simaria, and multiple water supply and sewage treatment plants. PM Modi also flagged off two trains — the Amrit Bharat Express between Gaya and Delhi and the Buddhist Circuit Train between Vaishali and Koderma.
The Prime Minister, who symbolically handed over keys to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), reiterated his pledge to provide pucca houses to all. “Until every needy person receives a permanent house, I will not rest. These are not just houses but symbols of dignity for the poor,” he said, adding that more than four crore homes have been built across India in the past 11 years, including over 38 lakh in Bihar.
Striking a political note, PM Modi attacked the opposition over corruption, recalling that “lantern rule” left Bihar in darkness. He said his government was preparing a new anti-corruption law that would apply even to the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and Ministers. “If arrested, they must secure bail within 30 days or vacate office. Development projects today are proof that under our government, work is not left incomplete,” he said.
PM Modi referred to the recent Pahalgam terror attack and claimed that India had successfully intercepted missiles launched from Pakistan. He described “Operation Sindoor” as having “drawn a new line in India’s defence strategy”, declaring that no terrorist would escape Indian missiles “even if they hide in the depths of the earth”.
He also announced the launch of a “Demography Mission”, vowing to expel “every infiltrator” from the country. “The demographic profile of Bihar’s border districts is changing rapidly. We will not let infiltrators snatch jobs from Bihar’s youth,” he said, while accusing opposition parties of appeasement politics.
Praising the Bihar government, PM Modi lauded Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s teacher recruitment drive and called the renaming of Gaya as “Gaya Ji” a reflection of people’s sentiments. “The double-engine government is continuously working for the rapid development of Bihar,” he said.
Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and several Union Ministers including Chirag Paswan and Giriraj Singh were present at the event.