Patna (Bihar) [India], June 20 (ANI): Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Friday slammed RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and dismissed his claims of state administration 'forcibly' gathering people for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally, saying the RJD had no moral ground to speak of public welfare.

'The 90s decade proves who misused the public money. The 90s were a decade in which the people of Bihar had to leave their homes, villages, and businesses and leave Bihar.'

He emphasised that under the current administration, there has been a positive shift. 'Gradually, reverse migration has started in Bihar. Around 25 lakh people have returned to Bihar after COVID-19... This is a double-engine government, not a jungle-raj...'

Meanwhile, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha hailed PM Modi's visit to Siwan as a momentous occasion.

'It was a very historic event...The way people welcomed and greeted the Prime Minister was tremendous... this is a historic day for the people of Bihar,' said Deputy CM.

Apart from this, in a swift rebuttal Bihar Minister Ashok Choudhary also questioned the credibility of Tejashwi's claims, saying, 'Is it Lalu Prasad Yadav's regime that the professors are not getting salaries? Has any government employee claimed that they are not getting their salaries? Tejashwi Yadav should reveal who is providing him with such information... In the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, Tejashwi Yadav will face a defeat greater than that experienced by Lalu Prasad Yadav.'

Notably, PM Modi during his visit to Siwan on Friday flagged off a state-of-the-art locomotive built at the Marhowra Plant, for export to the Republic of Guinea, under the 'Make in India' initiative.

The plant became the first export locomotive manufactured in this factory. They are equipped with high-horsepower engines, advanced AC propulsion systems, microprocessor-based control systems, and ergonomic cab designs, incorporating technologies like regenerative braking.

PM also flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra and Gorakhpur via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah. (ANI)