‘I may forgive, but people of Bihar won’t’: PM slams RJD-Cong for expletives against mother

Accusing both parties of being inimical to the progress of women as well as those from underprivileged backgrounds, the PM said Bihar was the land of Goddess Sita or Janaki and the honour of women, especially mothers, was paramount, referring to its rivers being given the suffix ‘maiya’.

The expletives against PM Modi’s late mother were made last week allegedly by a local Congress supporter, Mohammad Rizvi, who was arrested and sent to 14-day judicial custody.

The PM was addressing a gathering in Delhi while virtually inaugurating a new cooperative for the women — Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited — associated with self-help groups in Bihar. On the occasion, PM Modi also transferred Rs 105 crore into the institution’s bank account to strengthen entrepreneurship development among rural women and accelerate the growth of community-led enterprises through easy access to funds at affordable interest rates.

“Devotion and faith in the mother is the identity of Bihar… For our government, the honour of a mother, her respect and ‘swabhiman’ are a huge priority. It is mothers who are our whole world,” he said.

“In Bihar, from an RJD-Congress stage, my mother was verbally abused. These abuses are disrespectful not just to my mother, but for the mothers, sisters and daughters of the nation… I am well aware that the pain and agony that this caused in my heart is the same felt by the people of Bihar… Today, when I see so many mothers and sisters in front of me, I cannot help but share my pain with you so that… I can face it,” he said.

The PM said his public life spanning over 50-55 years would not have been possible had it not been for his late mother, Heeraben, who passed away in 2022. “I wanted to serve Ma Bharti; that is why the mother who gave birth to me freed me from duties towards her — she gave me the ‘aashirwad’ that son, go and serve the crores of mothers and the poor in this country… That mother, who had nothing to do with politics… was abused with ugly ‘gaalis’ from an RJD-Congress stage,” he said.

“The expletives used on an RJD-Congress stage were not just for my mother…but for crores of mothers and sisters. These princes born in stately families will not be able to understand the penance of a poor mother, the pain of her son (when she is abused),” he said.

“These ‘naamdaar’ (those with a prominent lineage) see the governance of the country and this state as their family property… The people of this country chose to make the ‘kaamgaar’ (someone who toils) son of a poor mother the ‘pradhan sevak’ of the country, which is what they cannot digest,” he said.

Alleging that the RJD wanted to avenge those who had voted them out of power, he also accused the Congress of being anti-backward, referring to alleged insults meted out to President Droupadi Murmu by the party’s senior leadership. “During the RJD era, crime was rampant in Bihar and the state witnessed cases of murder, extortion and rape every day. The RJD government gave protection to murderers and rapists… The Congress has never been able to tolerate the progress of a ‘pichhda’ or ‘ati-pichhda’… They think that it is the right of ‘naamdaars’ to abuse ‘kaamgaars’… You must have heard the abuses which they have showered on me, too,” he said, listing such instances.

“The soil of Bharat has never tolerated an insult to a mother…fixing accountability for this insult is also the responsibility of each of Bihar’s brothers…,” he said, adding that both parties should seek forgiveness from Satbahini, Chhathi Maiya and the women of the country.