PM Modi urges governance over ‘jungle raj’ in Bihar, calls for emotional commitment beyond elections
On Nov 17 in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a stirring message at the Sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture, a key event organised by the Express Group to honour journalistic excellence. He took the occasion to reflect on Bihar’s troubled past and to outline a hopeful vision for the state’s future.
Modi praised the current National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar for steady progress in infrastructure, education and women’s empowerment. “Whether there are separate governments in the states or our central government, you should compete in development,” he said, stressing that healthy rivalry should drive progress, not bitterness.
He compared this hard‑working wave of governance to the “jungle raj” of former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in the 1990s, a period marked by kidnappings, caste clashes and crumbling public services. “Lalu Yadav could have done a lot for Bihar if he wanted, but he prioritised jungle raj,” Modi said, echoing the familiar memory among many listeners of that chaotic era.
Following the BJP’s recent electoral win in Bihar – marked by record turnout and a strong showing among women voters – Modi urged his party to move beyond election tactics. “After winning the Bihar elections, some Modi‑fans in the media say we remain in election mode 24/7,” he joked. “We should instead be in emotional mode, not election mode.” The Prime Minister called for a shift toward heartfelt public service.
He highlighted key flagship schemes that have lifted millions out of poverty, such as the PM Awas Yojana and Ujjwala programmes. “We’ve seen this in Bihar,” Modi said, painting a picture of villages now lit by solar lamps and connected by expressways, a stark contrast to the chaos of the past.
Modi also shared a personal anecdote from the early 1990s, recalling how the RSS icon Nanaji Deshmukh advised him to simply file nomination papers for the Lok Sabha polls. He used this story to underline the hard work of BJP’s grassroots workers, who have carried the party’s ideals across the country.
The lecture, held in a glittering venue in the capital, celebrated Ramnath Goenka’s legacy of fearless journalism and his opposition to the Emergency. Modi praised the awards as a platform that shapes national thought, linking Goenka’s commitment to truth with his own call for compassionate, development‑driven governance.
The speech wrapped up with Modi’s key message: governments must act as caregivers, not just calculators. He reaffirmed the party’s pledge to help the poor and to meet the aspirations of the middle class, urging all Indians to advance together toward a brighter future.
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