Patna: Keeping up the pressure on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Gujarat Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi undertook a whirlwind tour of the state on Saturday to meet the family members of six persons killed in serial bomb blasts during his Sunday's Hunkar rally in Patna and assured them of all help from the party.
Amid tight security, Modi first headed for Gaurichak in old Patna locality to convey his condolences to the relatives of Raj Narain Singh, 65, one of those killed in the serial blasts. The BJP leader garlanded the photograph of Singh, sat on the floor as he consoled the family and handed them a cheque of Rs 5 lakh on behalf of the party.
The Gujarat Chief Minister assured the family members of all possible help from his party. "Modi consoled Singh's widow. The family was assured that the party will take care of them and and they were satisfied that Modi had come to meet them," BJP leader Ravishankar Prasad said.
Modi's visit to the village was delayed by two hours on Sunday morning due to fog. He could only leave for Gaurichak only after the weather opened up.
Besides, Bihar Police personnel, 150 police officials from Gujarat including one Additional Director General of Police rank officer, two Deputy Inspector General of Police and six Deputy Superintendent of Police level officials had come to Bihar as part of the elaborate security cover for Modi at all the places he would visit, police sources said.
Not willing to take any chances and as part of Z++ VVIP security arrangement for Modi, the Bihar government had issued an alert. A DIG rank officer along with the Commissioner is accompanying the Gujarat Chief Minister to all the districts he is visiting, police sources added.
After Gaurichak, Modi was slated to meet families of victims in Kaimur, Gopalganj, Supaul, Begusarai and Nalanda. Interestingly, Nalanda is the home district of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Modi's plan to visit Gopalganj and Supaul was dropped as his chopper was diverted to Patna following bad weather. The Gujarat Chief Minister, however, made a point to talk to the breaved family members on the phone.
From Nalanda, Modi will fly straight to Patna airport and then return to Ahmedabad in his chartered plane, BJP sources said.
He had announced his visit after the October 27 multiple explosions during the Hunkar rally organised by the BJP in the state capital.
While the family members of the victims said they were content with Modi's visit, they criticised Nitish Kumar for not visiting them. "He should visit us. The government is made by us. He must visit us," said Raj Narayan Singh's eldest son.
Meanwhile, the JD(U) hit out at Modi, alleging that he was playing politics of polarisation and questioned why he had never visited the families of 2002 Gujarat riots. "This kind of behaviour does not behave a person who has been named as the prime ministerial candidate by the main opposition party. We are not saying he should not come to Bihar. But the time he has chosen is not right," JD(U) leader Shivanand Tiwari said.
(With additional inputs from PTI)
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