Modi surprises with Rs. 1.25-lakh cr. largesse

Ahead of the Assembly elections in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a package of Rs. 1.25 lakh crore for the State at a function in Ara on Tuesday. The package would change the “face and fate” of the State, he said. Inaugurating several national highway and skill development projects, the Prime Minister took a swipe at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for not utilising Central funds but always demanding a “special package or more funds” for the State. Mr. Kumar has been demanding special status for a long time. The Prime Minister said: “Earlier, I had declared that I would give a Rs. 50,000-crore package to Bihar, but now, I realised it was not enough for the State. So I have come here to Ara to declare that I will give a Rs 1.25-lakh-crore package for its growth and development.”