Opposition Mocks PM Modi with “Hawai Chappal, Hawai Jahaj, Hawai Jumle” as He Inaugurates Purnia Airport in Bihar

On the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Purnia in poll-bound Bihar, he inaugurated a new airport along with development initiatives valued at over ₹36,000 crore. The visit, aimed at highlighting the government’s developmental efforts in the Seemanchal region, drew sharp criticism from the opposition, with Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) targeting the NDA government for alleged failures in employment generation, healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

The Congress party, led by spokesperson Gyan Ranjan Gupta, staged a political protest across Purnia through a series of posters carrying slogans such as “Hawai chappal, hawai jahaz, hawai jumle.” These posters featured a laughing image of the Prime Minister and emphasized unfulfilled promises, stating: “Purnviram Purnia! Ab special jumle nahi (Full stop Purnia! Now, no more special empty promises).” Gupta highlighted the disparity between promises and delivery, questioning the availability of jobs, universities, and AIIMS in the region. He pointed out that while flights were promised even to those in “hawai chappals,” even middle-class citizens struggle to afford air travel under NDA governance.

Gupta stressed that Bihar demands its fair share of development, including rights to education, healthcare, employment, and dignity. He further outlined the Congress’s welfare-focused “Ghar Ghar Adhikar Yatra” campaign, which is actively garnering support across Bihar. Key welfare proposals under this initiative include ₹2 lakh capital support for women-led businesses, monthly assistance of ₹2,500 under the Mai-Bahan Yojana, ₹25 lakh for healthcare needs, free land for the landless, tablet computers for students from classes 8 to 12, monthly pensions for senior citizens and widows, and 200 units of free electricity. Gupta underscored that the public can see through hollow slogans, emphasizing that this election, Bihar would vote for rights rather than rhetoric.

Meanwhile, RJD leader and Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav conducted an unscheduled late-night inspection of Purnia’s Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on September 13. Posting on social media, Yadav described the hospital as a “snapshot of NDA’s 20-year-long neglect of public healthcare.” He alleged severe deficiencies, including a non-functioning ICU, no cardiology department, an inactive trauma centre, and inadequate sanitation. He noted that three patients were being accommodated on single beds, nurses were operating at one-fifth of sanctioned strength, 80% of doctor posts were vacant, and interns had not been paid for six months.

Yadav questioned whether PM Modi would address these systemic failures during his Purnia visit or continue to ignore the 20-year-old NDA government’s lapses in Bihar and the Centre’s 11-year governance. He criticized the government for indulging in political rhetoric while public health collapses, unemployment rises, and corruption remains endemic under the so-called double-engine government.

The combined actions of Congress and RJD indicate a politically charged environment in Purnia ahead of the Bihar elections, where both parties aim to challenge the NDA’s development narrative by highlighting governance gaps. Congress emphasizes rights-based welfare measures and economic support programs, while RJD focuses on healthcare neglect and administrative lapses. These developments illustrate the opposition’s strategy to mobilize voter sentiment through both symbolic protest and direct inspection of governance failures.

In summary, the PM’s Purnia visit has not only showcased developmental projects but also intensified political debates, with opposition parties questioning NDA’s performance in public service delivery, infrastructure, and welfare. The events underscore Bihar’s politically sensitive climate as elections approach, with rights, accountability, and development at the forefront of public discourse.