PM Modi mocks Rahul Gandhi in Bihar: 'Those on Yatra wouldn’t even know what Makhana is'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a rally in Purnea, Bihar. (X/@BJP4Bihar)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a dig at Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his recent tour of the state under the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra', suggesting that the leader may be unaware of Makhana (foxnuts), a superfood produced in key districts of the Mithilanchal and Seemanchal regions of Bihar before the incumbent government.

"Those who were touring the state before I came here were probably unaware of the importance of Makhana before our government provided this product the desired push," Prime Minister Modi said, addressing a rally in Bihar's Purnea.

During his visit, the prime minister launched the National Makhana Board, fulfilling a promise the Centre made during the Budget this year. "The board will promote production and new technology development, strengthen post-harvest management, promote value addition and processing and facilitate market, export and brand development in Makhana, thereby benefiting the Makhana farmers of Bihar and the country," a government statement said.

Key districts like Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Saharsa, Katihar, Purnea, Supaul, Kishanganj and Araria serve as the primary hubs of Makhana production.

The Prime Minister's remarks came after a recent video posted by the Congress showed Rahul Gandhi stating that Makhana, globally touted as a superfood, is made “with the blood and sweat of farmers” and how middlemen were pocketing the profits.

“Our ‘superfood’ Makhana—have you thought where it comes from? Who makes it and how? Makhana is the product of the blood and sweat of farmers of Bihar; it sells in thousands, but the income is a pittance—the entire profit goes to the middlemen. Our fight is against this injustice—the worker should get the right for his hard work and skill,” Rahul said in the video.

PM Modi also raised a now-deleted social media post by the official handle of the Kerala unit of the Congress which drew parallels between Bihar and 'beedi'.

"You must have just seen that the Congress Party, an ally of RJD, is comparing Bihar to a beedi on social media. These people have so much hatred for Bihar. These people have caused immense damage to Bihar's reputation through scams and corruption," the Prime Minister said, adding that
Congress and RJD have once again resolved to tarnish Bihar's image after seeing its progress.

"People with such a mentality can never do any good for Bihar. Those who have always been concerned about filling their own coffers, why would they care about the poor's household?"

The Prime Minister also referred to former PM  Rajiv Gandhi's remarks that when the government sends 100 paise, only 15 paise reach the citizens.

"Under the Congress-RJD government, money couldn't reach the poor's accounts directly. By lighting the lantern, that hand would grab the money and siphon off 85 paise," PM Modi said in a veiled reference to the party symbols of the RJD (lantern) and Congress (hand).