Bihar results may have sent shock waves in the ranks and files of the BJP, which until Sunday morning desperately tried to appear confident about their victory in the assembly elections. But, their crushing defeat at the hands of the Grand Alliance led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has prompted PM Narendra Modi’s political detractors to unite in condeming his ‘politics of hate.’
From the Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, no one appeared sympathetic towards the prime minister.
Here’s what Modi’s rivals had to say about him after the results were announced.
Rahul Gandhi- Vice President, Congress
“This is not a victory against NDA, but against RSS, BJP and Modi. It is a message against dividing Hindus and Muslims. PM Modi and RSS must give up anger, will be good for country and Modiji himself. Stop your foreign tours and spend more time in wiping the tears of Indians who are suffering. Ek saal se gaadi ruk gayi hai, accelator on kijiye and gaadi chalayiye, warna janata darwaaza khol kar bahar phenk degi.”
Arvind Kejriwal- Delhi Chief Minister
“The results are a referendum on the work and working style of Modi. Today’s result is a tight slap on the faces of Modi-Shah. An atmosphere of intolerance had enveloped the entire country. I am hopeful that all this will stop and the politics of affection will start. The people of this country want that Modi should stop touring foreign countries and work in India. “
Sitaram Yechury- General Secretary, CPI-M
“The main message of the Bihar verdict is people are not going to tolerate any attack on the country’s social fabric and secular tradition. Since independence, our country has had a secular tradition. People did not accept the attack launched against it by the BJP. The Dadri incident, BJP president Amit Shah’s comment that the victory of the grand alliance would be celebrated with fireworks in Pakistan were add on factors.”
Asaduddin Owaisi- AIMIM chief
“It’s a personal defeat of Modi as never before a prime minister campaigned so much in an election. Never before in the history of independent India, we had seen a sitting prime minister getting so involved and addressing more than 35 public meetings. The atmosphere in Bihar was that Modi should be defeated. Muslims and other communities had decided to defeat Modi,”
Lalu Prasad Yadav- RJD chief
“Modi is a clear cut RSS pracharak. Modi forgot that Bihar is not Haryana or Maharashtra. We will launch a major agitation. I will first go to Varanasi to see if Modi has fulfilled the promises made during the Lok Sabha election. The winds of change from Bihar will blow all over the country.”