The North News
(Bhagalpur) Bihar, February 24
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the people of the state will never forgive those who insult the Maha Kumbh, adding that those who support “jungle raj” despise India’s heritage and faith. Addressing a large crowd in Bhagalpur, Bihar, he also released the 19th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme, transferring approximately ₹22,000 crore to farmers across the country.
Modi hailed the occasion as a “great fortune” to visit Mandarachal during the Maha Kumbh, emphasizing the region’s spiritual and cultural significance. He said Bihar’s farmers are a crucial pillar of his vision for a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) and reiterated his government’s commitment to agricultural welfare.
Around 75 lakh farmer families in Bihar benefited from the latest PM-KISAN disbursement, receiving a total of ₹1,600 crore directly in their bank accounts. Modi underscored his administration’s decade-long efforts to improve agricultural conditions, including better access to seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation. He claimed that previous governments had neglected these issues, leaving farmers vulnerable to black marketing and shortages.
Modi asserted that his government had ensured stable fertilizer supplies even during the Covid-19 pandemic and that subsidies kept urea prices at ₹300 per bag—far below the ₹3,000 price in some countries. He said the government had spent ₹12 lakh crore over the past decade to shield farmers from rising input costs.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the impact of the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, which he said had provided ₹1.75 lakh crore in insurance claims to farmers affected by natural disasters. He pointed to his administration’s efforts in animal husbandry, claiming that 1.25 crore rural women had become “Lakhpati Didis” through dairy initiatives. Bihar, he noted, played a key role in India’s rise as the world’s largest milk producer, with state dairy cooperatives handling 30 lakh litres of milk daily.
Modi accused past governments of neglecting fishermen and boatmen, arguing that his government’s introduction of Kisan Credit Cards for fishers had driven Bihar’s ascent to the top five fish-producing states in India. He linked this to conservation efforts for the endangered Ganga dolphin, calling it a success of the Namami Gange programme.
The Prime Minister also promoted Bihar’s role in food processing, announcing a National Institute of Food Technology and Entrepreneurship along with three Centres of Excellence focused on agricultural research. He said Bihar’s famed Makhana (fox nuts) would be pushed onto the global market through a newly formed Makhana Board.
Turning to industry, Modi highlighted Bhagalpur’s textile sector, promising modern infrastructure for its silk weavers. He noted that the region’s bridges and roads were being expanded, including a four-lane Ganga bridge costing over ₹1,100 crore. He also mentioned flood mitigation efforts, such as the Western Kosi Canal project, aimed at irrigating 50,000 hectares of farmland in Mithilanchal.
Modi concluded by announcing the establishment of the country’s 10,000th Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) in Bihar’s Khagaria district. He said that 30 lakh farmers were now part of FPOs, with 40% of them being women.
Asserting that Bihar would be central to India’s future growth, Modi reiterated his slogan: “The rise of a Viksit Bharat will begin with Purvodaya.”
