Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress, condemning derogatory remarks made about him and his late mother during the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar last week.
Calling the incident deeply painful, PM Modi said the insults were not limited to his family but extended to “all mothers, sisters and daughters of the country.”
“Mother is our world. Mother is our self-respect. I had not imagined that such an incident would take place on the tradition-rich land of Bihar. These abuses are not just an insult to my mother but to every woman of this country,” he said, addressing a public event virtually.
The Prime Minister recalled how his mother, who passed away after completing 100 years, stayed away from politics. “My mother separated me from herself so that I could serve crores of mothers like you… Yet she was abused from the stage of RJD and Congress. She is no more, and still, such words were used against her. This is extremely painful,” he added.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi virtually inaugurated the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited, a cooperative aimed at providing affordable credit to women entrepreneurs. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha were present at the launch.
Hailing the initiative, PM Modi said women’s empowerment is the foundation of India’s progress. “To empower women, it is essential that all barriers in their lives are removed. The Jeevika Sahakari Sangh is a wonderful step in that direction,” he remarked.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Jeevika Nidhi will give women associated with self-help groups access to loans at lower interest rates, reducing reliance on microfinance institutions that often charge 18–24% interest. The cooperative will function on a digital platform, ensuring transparent and quick fund transfers, with 12,000 community cadres equipped with tablets to support operations.
The initiative is expected to benefit nearly 20 lakh women across Bihar, strengthening rural enterprises and boosting community-led growth.
