The record
Written from the 1 report below. Nothing here is unsourced.
- The Bihar unit of the BJP organised the Ashirwad Ka Diya programme across the State on September 17 to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday.
- Party workers and leaders lit over 20 lakh diyas as part of the event, with Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and State President Sanjay Saraogi attending functions in Patna and Darbhanga.
- An education department order directed government and private schools to light lamps on their campuses on September 17, according to a letter shared by Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav.
- The RJD and CPI(ML) criticised the celebrations as a waste of public money while Bihar continued to deal with floods that affected around 50 lakh people.
- The opposition's attack sets up a political controversy over whether public funds should go to birthday celebrations instead of flood relief in Bihar.
What to watch next
- Whether the Bihar government responds to or withdraws the school lamp-lighting directive.
- Details on the reported Rs 100 crore government expenditure for the celebrations.
- Progress of flood relief and compensation for the 50 lakh affected people.
Who said what3
Only words found exactly in the article are shown, attributed and linked to the line they came from.
Samrat Choudhary
Bihar Chief Minister
1 quote · 1 outlet
“commitment to India and its development is consistently evident throughout Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years of public life.”
In the article
…Sanjay Saraogi attended a similar programme in Darbhanga. A blood donation camp was also organised at BJP office in Patna where Mr. Choudhary distributed certificates. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Choudhary said that commitment to India and its development is consistently evident throughout Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years of public life. He asserted that under the Prime Minister’s leadership, numerous public welfare schemes —such as housing for the poor (Pradhan Mantri Awas), electricity and toilets in every household, and the provision of food grains…
Tejashwi Yadav
Leader of Opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly
1 quote · 1 outlet
“Forced Happy Birthday to Modi Ji” via Government Order! For the first time in the country, a government directive has been issued on the birthday of a Prime Minister who has exceeded the age limit of the Margdarshak Mandal (guiding council) , making it legally mandatory to light diyas at schools, government buildings, and public places like roads, bridges, parks, etc., at a government expense of Rs 100 crore.”
In the article
…been given to all the private and government schools respectively to light lamps in their respective campuses on September 17. Both the letters were issued on September 14. Sharing the letter, Mr. Yadav wrote on X, “ Forced Happy Birthday to Modi Ji” via Government Order! For the first time in the country, a government directive has been issued on the birthday of a Prime Minister who has exceeded the age limit of the Margdarshak Mandal (guiding council) , making it legally mandatory to light diyas at schools, government buildings, and public places like roads, bridges, parks, etc., at a government expense of Rs 100 crore. ” He further wrote, “Teachers will now skip teaching and, on a holiday, arrive at school at 7-8 PM to light the diyas, guard them, and chant praises of Modi Ji. The UPSC-passed bureaucrat—in an attempt to pass the most…
Kunal
1 quote · 1 outlet
“on the one hand, the government claims a lack of funds for relief operations and compensation for flood victims, while on the other, money is being squandered on the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’—an initiative with no relevance to public welfare.”
In the article
…floods, yet the BJP is celebrating Prime Minister’s birthday. CPI(ML) State Secretary Kunal criticised the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ and the ‘Aashirwad ka Diya’ programme, terming it an act of insensitivity. He added that on the one hand, the government claims a lack of funds for relief operations and compensation for flood victims, while on the other, money is being squandered on the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’—an initiative with no relevance to public welfare. Mr. Kunal asked to justify the celebration when darkness prevails in the homes of flood-affected families in Bihar, and when people are enduring the pain of losing their loved ones, homes, and livelihoods. He urged…
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Coverage1
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Named India · Bihar · Bharatiya Janata Party · Bihar Education Department · Bihar Education Project Council · Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) · Kunal · Narendra Modi · Rashtriya Janata Dal · Samrat Choudhary · Tejashwi Yadav
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