Live: Bihar has become a haven for terrorists due to vote bank politics, says Modi at Muzaffarpur rally

Muzaffarpur: Sharing the stage with foe-turned-friend Ram Vilas Paswan, Narendra Modi today attacked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying Bihar has become a safe haven for terrorists as he has failed to act tough in his bid to win over Muslim votes.Addressing a big rally in which LJP chief Paswan and his son Chirag appeared for the first time with him after the two parties stitched an alliance last week, he said the country's polity was now divided into two camps."One headed by us is looking for a solution to country's problems while the other is searching for a solution to stop Modi," the BJP's prime ministerial candidate said.Praising Paswan, Modi said he had remained courteous to him in personal meetings and did not shy away from being photographed with him despite their ideological differences, an apparent dig at Kumar.Without naming Kumar he said, the Bihar CM was a "hypocrite" who met him with affection in a closed room and ate together but feared shaking hands in public. "People pardon your mistakes but not hypocrisy."Paswan, who had quit the NDA government at the Centre in 2002 after the Gujarat riots blaming Modi, today said there is a wave in favour of Modi which will take him to the seat of power."Modi was born in a poor family who says he has been a victim of political untouchability... He is going to wear a crown of thorns. I hope no community will say a year later that Modi is not their leader," he said, apparently referring to Muslims' unease towards Modi.The Gujarat Chief Minister touched on the terror blasts in his Patna rally in October last year on the day of his rally to hit out at Kumar."The border (Bihar's) with Nepal is a cause for concern. Bihar has become a haven for terrorists due to vote bank politics of the government. It has not adopted tough policies against them to appease some people," he said.You may not like Modi or BJP but those who died in the blasts were also from Bihar, he said."Those indulging in the politics of vote bank do not understand this ideology... Sooner we get rid of such people, the better it is."Welcoming Paswan, Modi said that NDA's strength was going to grow further and so would the troubles of his rivals."They think that BJP, which (they) thought of as a party of Baniyas and Brahmins, has declared a man from OBC as their PM candidate... Let me tell you, the next decade will belong to SCs, STs, the poor and marginalised," he said.Ridiculing the fledgling Third Front, of which Kumar's JD(U) is a member, he alleged that the country's development was the least of their concern. Most parties in the front have been Congress allies, he said.Accusing rivals of using secularism as a tool to grab power, he said they were trying to stop him with claims that secularism was in danger.Sometime back it was in fashion to blame foreign powers and ISI for everything while, currently, it is in fashion to say that secularism is in danger, he said."I say give jobs to youths, they say secularism is in danger. I say give food to the poor, they say secularism is in danger... For them secularism is a political slogan, for us it is that all communities are ours," he said."Modi says stop inflation, stop corruption... They have only one dream, one agenda; stop Modi, stop Modi," he said.Paswan earlier hinted at the reported insult to him by the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD and Congress for his decision to snap ties with them."You are good if you are with them. You become bad if you are not. I tell you all that you must live with honour, there is no point in living in humiliation," he said.He also attacked Kumar for making claims about development in Bihar and said he was going around as a leader on the strength of BJP. No party fulfils the responsibilities of an alliance as BJP does, he said.Here are the live updates: 02:36- Modi concludes his speech2:35pm- Modi: Their politics is built on 1 dream, 1 agenda- stop Modi. I say Vikas Karna Hai, they say Modi ka VInash Karna Hai. Nirnay Desh ko karma hai.2:30pm- Modi: Today the nation's politics can be seen in two groups. One group is represented by Modi while the other group is represented by those who oppose Modi. We want an India where every family has a home, a home with water and sanitation facilities, where there is power connection. Modi says stop rising prices they say stop Modi, Modi says stop corruption they says stop Modi.2:27pm- Modi: There was a time when we used to blame ISI for everything. Nowadays, these people quote secularism for all ills. If you talk about employment, they will say secularism is in danger, if you talk about price rise, they say secularism is in danger. This is a betrayal. For them, secularism means votebank politics, but for us, secularism means development of the country. For them secularism is religion first but for us it is India first.2:25pm- Modi: If Atal ji had formed the Government in 2004, work on Eastern corridor would have gone on at quick pace. Terrorism is a threat to humanity. Sadly, Bihar has become a haven for terrorists due to Government's votebank politics. We have to fight terror in one voice, rising above politics. That is when common people will feel secure. We need to take river grid project ahead but Vajpayee's dream was not fulfilled by the UPA2:25pm- Modi: If Atal ji had formed the Government in 2004, work on Eastern corridor would have gone on at quick pace. Terrorism is a threat to humanity. Sadly, Bihar has become a haven for terrorists due to Government's votebank politics. We have to fight terror in one voice, rising above politics. That is when common people will feel secure.2:20pm- Modi: Do you get electricity in Bihar? In Bihar, getting power supply is news, not getting power supply is not news. Do you think this government can give you employment? In 2012, 8,50,000 people got their name registered in employment exchange. How many of them got employment? Leechi and Makhana are very famous from here. If there is no Lotus where will Makhana come from?2:20pm- Modi: Sugar industry was prospering in Bihar but why are sugar factories closed now? Can't we change this? In Bihar, only 23 percent of households have toilets. In rest of houses, our mothers and sisters have to go for toilet in open. Is it not painful?2:15pm- Modi: Today NDA is expanding. I want to thank Ram Vilas Paswan for joining NDA. I also thank Upendra Kushwaha and Chirag Paswan. This alliance will keep on expanding. There is no place for hypocrisy in democracy. I want to tell you that even after Ram Vilas Paswan left NDA, he always met warmly was not afraid of getting the photograph published in the newspaper. I have seen people who were happy meeting inside a room but used to sweat if I shook hands with them publically. 2:10pm- Modi: I am busy in finding solution for problems of the nation but they are busy finding a solution for Modi. Today they are shocked a person belonging to backward caste has been made a prime ministerial candidate. I want to tell you that the coming decade belongs to Dalits, backward and deprived sections of the society.2:07pm- Modi: I wish speedy recovery for George Fernandes who made Bihar his karmabhoomi. Today's ‘Hoonkar rally' is not to belittle anybody. It's manifestations of our aspirations, for victory of good over bad.2:05pm- Modi: I thank people of Bihar for their contribution to the Sardar Patel's ‘statue of unity'. We got freedom due to brave sons like Khudiram Bose who sacrificed himself for the nation.2:00pm- Modi: One may not like Modi and BJP but you can't do anything like this. Why were innocent people killed? Those who were killed were from Bihar only. Those drowned in votebank politics won't get it. Such thoughts and such leaders...we need freedom from them and that is when India will progress. We should get rid of Such leaders as soon as possible.1:57pm- Modi: Last time when I had visited Bihar, bombs were planted under a conspiracy that killed innocent people. The kind of brotherhood that Bihar has displayed despite an attack of that scale is just remarkable. The nation can't progress in absence peace of brotherhood.1:55pm- Modi begins his speech1:47pm: Paswan- Since 2002 there is no violence in Gujarat and here in Bihar there is no month where violence does not happen. Finally, I want to congratulate Modi ji for coming to Bihar and wish him all the best for his endeavor.1:43pm: Paswan- Nitish Kumar has ruled on the strength of BJP. This CM talks about development. Strength was of BJP and that is why he became leader.I used to wonder why BJP had completely surrendered to Nitish.It's good that BJP has decided to walk separately.1:44pm: Paswan- The way BJP follows alliance Dharma, UPA has not done the same: Ram Vilas Paswan in Muzaffarpur1:42pm: Paswan- Break all barriers of caste, creed and religion. My era is phasing out. Era of Chrag is now making entry. Both Nitish and Lalu used to praise me earlier but now that I have joined national alliance, they are abusing me. They wanted me to be subservient to them for ever.These people gave me certificates, said you should become CM.Today I have become bad.1:40pm: Paswan- Modi who was born in a backward caste is today marching ahead. Its really heartening.1:38 pm: Paswan: NDA will form govt at the Centre led by Narendra Modi. There are two Indias today: one rich and the other poor.1:35 pm: LJP chief Ramvilas Paswan begins speech.1:19 pm: A huge garland made of makhana is hung around Modi, Paswan, his son, Sushil Modi and others to felicitate them.1:17 pm: Narendra Modi, Ramvilas Paswan, Chirag Paswan, Sushil Modi hold hands to greet thousands of supporters at the rally.1:15 pm: Narendra Modi reaches rally venue amidst slogans of "Har Har Modi".12:28 pm: Narendra Modi reaches Patna, leaving for Muzaffarpur.11 am: So far the crowds have been sparse. On the dais is written "Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi". A large number of chairs have been put on the dais for BJP and LJP leaders to sit. Ramvilas Paswan is expected to address the rally with Modi, say organisers 8 am: Metal detectors are in placed at all entry points to the rally venue. BJP supporters have started to trickle in. Organisers are busy giving last minute touches to the dais.