Bihar – Union Home Minister Amit Shah delivered a powerful message at an Amit Shah Bihar rally on Thursday, issuing a stern warning to Pakistan-sponsored terrorists that any attack on India would be met with overwhelming force. Speaking at a poll rally in Madhubani district, Shah declared that if terrorists strike India with bullets, they will face cannons in response, using the Hindi phrase “goli ka jawab goley se diya jaega” that has become a signature statement of the government’s tough stance on terrorism.
Defence Corridor and National Security
A key highlight of the Amit Shah Bihar rally was the announcement linking Bihar’s proposed defence corridor to India’s counter-terrorism capabilities. The Home Minister emphasized that explosives manufactured in Bihar’s planned defence corridor would be deployed against Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, thereby directly connecting the state’s industrial development with national security objectives.
“The Prime Minister is setting up a Defence Corridor in Bihar. If Pakistan-sponsored terrorists repeat their mistake, ‘goli ka jawab goley se diya jaega’ (they will face cannons for bullets),” Shah stated emphatically during the Amit Shah Bihar rally. This statement served dual purposes: reinforcing the government’s commitment to strong anti-terrorism measures while highlighting developmental initiatives that would benefit Bihar economically and strategically.
The proposed defence corridor represents a significant investment in Bihar’s industrial infrastructure and positions the state as a crucial contributor to India’s defence manufacturing capabilities. By invoking this project at the Amit Shah Bihar rally, the Home Minister sought to demonstrate how the NDA government is simultaneously advancing economic development and strengthening national security.
Operation Sindoor: A Response to Pahalgam Attack
During the Amit Shah Bihar rally, the Home Minister specifically referenced the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack and the government’s swift military response. “Terrorists from Pakistan attacked our citizens in Pahalgam. They wiped off Sindoor from the foreheads of our mothers and sisters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi avenged it by launching Operation Sindoor within 20 days. The Indian Army neutralised the terrorists on Pakistani land,” Shah said.
This reference to Operation Sindoor at the Amit Shah Bihar rally was designed to showcase the Modi government’s decisive approach to terrorism and its willingness to conduct cross-border operations to eliminate terrorist threats. The emotional appeal about wiping sindoor from the foreheads of mothers and sisters resonated with the predominantly Hindu audience in Bihar, connecting national security concerns with cultural and religious sentiments.
Contrasting Leadership Styles
The Amit Shah Bihar rally also featured sharp contrasts between the current government’s approach to national security and previous regimes. Shah launched a scathing attack against the Congress party, asserting that unlike earlier administrations, the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership is genuinely committed to the nation’s safety and security.
This comparison at the Amit Shah Bihar rally aimed to establish the NDA as the only political force capable of protecting India’s interests against external threats while positioning opposition parties as weak on national security issues. The Home Minister’s rhetoric suggested that only the current government possesses the political will to take tough decisions on terrorism and border security.
Attack on RJD and ‘Jungle Raj’
Beyond national security themes, the Amit Shah Bihar rally featured fierce criticism of regional opposition parties, particularly the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Shah accused RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and his son Tejashwi Yadav of raising slogans praising late Mohammad Shahabuddin, described as a gangster-turned-politician who allegedly unleashed terror in Siwan during the RJD’s 15-year rule in Bihar.
“Lalu and his party raise slogans like ‘Shahabuddin amar rahe’, dream of ‘jungle raj’ but Bihar people won’t allow these,” Shah declared at the Amit Shah Bihar rally. The reference to “jungle raj”—a term used to describe alleged lawlessness during RJD rule—has become a central theme of the BJP’s campaign strategy in Bihar, designed to evoke memories of a period that the party characterizes as chaotic and crime-ridden.
Electoral Appeal and EVM Strategy
The Amit Shah Bihar rally included direct appeals to voters to support the BJP by pressing the EVM button featuring the party’s lotus symbol. Shah framed the electoral choice as one between development and progress under NDA governance versus a return to the alleged chaos of “jungle raj” that characterized RJD rule.
This messaging at the Amit Shah Bihar rally sought to create a clear binary choice for voters: supporting the NDA meant endorsing strong national security, economic development, and good governance, while voting for the opposition would supposedly bring back lawlessness and misgovernance.
Criticism of RJD’s Election Commission Complaint
Another significant aspect of the Amit Shah Bihar rally was Shah’s criticism of the RJD for filing a complaint with the Election Commission seeking to halt the ₹10,000 benefit for ‘Jeevika Didis’—members of women’s self-help groups. The Home Minister claimed that “three generations of Lalu won’t be able to snatch funds transferred” to these self-help groups.
This attack at the Amit Shah Bihar rally portrayed the RJD as opposing welfare benefits for women, while positioning the NDA as the protector of schemes designed to empower women economically. By invoking “three generations of Lalu,” Shah also highlighted dynastic politics as a weakness of the opposition.
Strategic Messaging
The Amit Shah Bihar rally demonstrated sophisticated political messaging that wove together national security concerns, regional development promises, attacks on opposition parties, and welfare scheme advocacy. By connecting Bihar’s defence corridor to counter-terrorism operations, Shah created a narrative where voting for the NDA meant supporting both state development and national security.
The Amit Shah Bihar rally also reflected the BJP’s strategy of nationalizing state elections by bringing in issues of terrorism and Pakistan, which typically generate strong emotional responses and can overshadow local governance concerns. This approach aims to consolidate votes across caste and community lines by appealing to nationalist sentiments.
