‘Saw how files were signed from jail’: PM Modi on Bills against arrested ministers

He said that since his tenure began as Prime Minister in 2014, in all these years, “not a single stain of corruption has tainted his government”.

“In contrast, after Independence, the Congress governments that were in power for 60-65 years have a long list of corruption cases. RJD ka bhrashtachar toh Bihar ka baccha baccha janta hai (As for RJD’s corruption, even the children of Bihar know about it),” the PM said, adding that to take the fight against corruption till its end, “no one should be exempt from action”.

“We have recently seen how files were being signed from jail and government orders were issued from behind bars. If this is how political leaders behave, how can we fight the battle against corruption?” he said.

Pointing out that the Constitution expects “honesty and transparency” from every public representative, he added, “We cannot let the sanctity of the Constitution be torn apart. That is why the NDA government is bringing a law against corruption that includes even the Prime Minister. This law will cover the Chief Ministers and ministers too. Once this law is enacted, any Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or minister will have to secure bail within 30 days of arrest, and if bail is not granted, they will have to step down from their position on the thirty-first day.”

He asked the crowd: “Shouldn’t someone who goes to jail have to leave their post? Can they continue to remain in office? Can they sign government files? Can anyone run a government from jail?”

The PM accused the RJD, Congress, and Left parties of opposing the law. “They are very angry. And who doesn’t know what they’re afraid of. Those who have sinned try to hide their sins from others, but deep down they know what games they’ve played. This is the condition of these people.”

“These RJD and Congress people, some are out on bail, some are running circles around the court in the railway scam, and those out on bail today are the ones opposing this law. They believe that if they end up in jail, all their dreams will be shattered,” he said.

He also said his government will not allow infiltrators to decide the future of Bihar. “The increasing number of intruders in the country is a matter of concern. The demographic profile in Bihar’s border districts is changing rapidly, which is why the NDA government has decided that the future of the country will not be determined by infiltrators. We will not let infiltrators snatch job opportunities meant for the youth of Bihar, nor will we let them plunder the amenities that rightfully belong to Indian citizens,” he said.

The PM told the crowd that to address this threat, he has announced the launch of a ‘Demography Mission’. “This mission will begin its work very soon, and we are committed to identifying and removing every infiltrator from the country,” he said.

“Tell me, should infiltrators be removed or not? Are you willing to let infiltrators take away your jobs? Would you tolerate an infiltrator seizing your land? Would you accept an infiltrator depriving you of your rights?” asked Modi, warning all Bihar residents to “remain cautious” of those within the country who “support these infiltrators”.

“You must know who stands with those infiltrators. Parties like Congress and RJD want to snatch the rights of Bihar’s people and give them to infiltrators, for appeasement and to increase their vote bank. Congress and RJD can stoop to any level to achieve this. That is why the people of Bihar need to be extremely vigilant,” he said.

In a visit marked by major infrastructure inaugurations and welfare announcements, the Prime Minister used the stage in Gaya to also attack the Congress and the RJD for what he called decades of misrule, corruption, and betrayal of Bihar’s poor.

He positioned the NDA as a force for clean governance and rapid development, drawing a sharp contrast with the “lantern regime that left Bihar in darkness”.

Speaking at a public address after launching projects worth over ?13,000 crore, Modi lashed out at opposition parties for reducing Bihar to “vote-bank politics” and said that the people of the state had suffered under their neglect.

After his programme in Gaya, the PM travelled to inaugurate the state’s first six-lane bridge over the Ganga river, connecting Aunta in Patna district to Simaria in Begusarai district, alongside a new four-lane road from Bakhtiyarpur to Mokama.

The 8.15-km Aunta-Simaria bridge has been constructed for Rs 1,871 crore, and at 34 metres, it is the widest six-lane bridge in India, around 4.5 metres broader than standard six-lane designs. A total of six projects were inaugurated, and the foundation stone was laid for eight others during Modi’s visit to the state.