Two Trains, Six-Lane bridge and more: Modi
Kolkata, Aug 22:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the opposition INDIA bloc, including the TMC, of shielding corruption and resisting legislative moves aimed at ensuring probity in public life.
Addressing a rally here, Modi made indirect references to the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced in Parliament earlier this week, which seeks to bar prime ministers, chief ministers, and ministers from holding office if they remain in jail for 30 days or more.
Citing the provisions of the proposed law, the PM said, “We decided to bring in a law that provides for dismissing a corrupt chief minister, or even the prime minister, if he or she spends 30 days in jail. But when we brought in a stringent law, the TMC, the Congress started protesting.
They are angry because they are scared of facing punishment for their own sins.” In an apparent dig at former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Modi said, “It is a shame that even a
Modi slams Opposition
chief minister, after going to jail, has been running government from there.” Targeting the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Bengal, the PM said, “Two TMC ministers, even after going to jail on corruption charges, were not willing to give up their posts.” He was referring to former state education minister Partha Chatterjee, arrested in connection with the teachers’ recruitment scam, and Jyoti Priya Mallick, arrested in the ration distribution scam.
“Those who are arrested on corruption charges, how can they be part of the government and remain in their posts? Modi will not allow this,” the PM thundered.
Defending his government’s move, Modi said the new Bill was necessary to plug glaring loopholes in the system.
“Look at the situation, nowadays some people have stooped so low that they are trying to run the government from jail,” Modi added.
Highlighting his government’s records, the Prime Minister said, “For the past 11 years, the country has been waging a determined battle against corruption. In this regard, we have taken a significant step forward by introducing an anti-corruption Bill in the Lok Sabha.
Under existing laws, if a government employee is caught and incarcerated without securing bail within 50 hours, they are automatically suspended from their position.”
“However, no such provisions exist for a chief minister, a prime minister, or a minister. This loophole has allowed some leaders to stoop so low that they attempt to govern from behind bars.” After laying the foundation stone and inaugurating development projects worth around Rs 13,000 crore here in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday slammed the Opposition parties for “depriving people of benefits” during their tenure.
Coming down heavily on the Opposition, PM Modi said RJD and its allies consider people of Bihar as their vote bank only. “No major project was completed in Bihar during the RJD and Congress rule. They never think about people’s betterment, and are always busy filling their own pockets,” he said, adding that the NDA government is committed to boosting all sectors, including strengthening railway infrastructure in Bihar.
At Gayaji today, the Prime Minister laid the foundation and inaugurated development projects worth around Rs 13,000 crore, with a focus on boosting connectivity, infrastructure, railways and the urban development sector. During the event, he also virtually flagged off two trains – the Amrit Bharat Express between Gaya and Delhi, and the Buddhist Circuit Train between Vaishali and Koderma – aimed at enhancing railway connectivity, ease passenger travel and promote religious tourism in the region.
Addressing the rally, PM said, “Today, from the sacred land of Gaya, projects worth crores have been inaugurated and foundation stones laid in a single day. These include major initiatives related to energy, health and urban development. These projects will give strength to Bihar’s industries, provide jobs to people of the state, and improve the health infrastructure further.”
Highlighting concerns over illegal immigrants, the PM said his government will not allow infiltrators to snatch away the rights of the people of Bihar. “The increasing population of illegal immigrants in the country is a matter of concern. During my speech on Independence Day, I had alerted people about a danger… Bihar is also facing this danger. The demography in changing in the border areas of Bihar and that is why the NDA government has decided that it won’t allow the illegal immigrants to decide the country’s future. We will not let them snatch away employment of the youth of Bihar,” PM Modi said.
To tackle this threat, he said, he has proposed to start a demographic mission. “This mission will begin its work shortly. We will throw out every immigrant. People of Bihar need to be aware of the supporters of these immigrants in the country. Congress and RJD want take away the rights of the people of Bihar and give them to immigrants for appeasement and to increase their vote bank,” PM added.
During his address, he targeted the opposition parties and defended the central government’s newly introduced anti-corruption law.
The Prime Minister questioned how governance could function if leaders continued to hold office while in jail. “You think, today the law is that if a small government employee is kept in custody for 50 hours, he is automatically suspended. But if someone is a Chief Minister, a Minister or a Prime Minister, then he can enjoy the pleasures of power even while being in jail,” Modi said.
Taking a dig at opposition leaders, he added, “We have seen some time back how files were being signed from jail, government orders were being issued from jail. If the leaders have this attitude, then how can the fight against corruption be fought?”
PM Modi said that the dignity of the Constitution must be upheld. “That is why the central government has brought such a law against corruption, in which no one can escape. Whether he is the Prime Minister, Chief Minister or a Minister. After the law is made, bail will have to be taken within 30 days of arrest. If bail is not granted, then the post will have to be vacated,” he said.
Meanwhile, the new law has faced criticism from opposition parties, including the RJD, Congress and Left.
Today, the Prime Minister also handed over keys to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) and PMAY-Urban, furthering the government’s commitment to affordable housing for all.
Giving a big boost to state infrastructure, the Prime Minister inaugurated the much-awaited Aunta–Simaria six-lane bridge over the Ganga River in Begusarai district. The Rs 1870 crore project includes an 8.15 KM stretch on National Highway-31 and a 1.86 KM long six-lane bridge constructed parallel to the old Rajendra Setu.
The bridge is expected to boost trade and industries across North and South Bihar, as it improves connectivity between Mokama (in Patna district) and Begusarai, cutting down detours for heavy vehicles by over 100 KM.
