Nitish Kumar alleged that INDIA bloc leaders were posing as well-wishers of Muslims only to secure votes.
He claimed the NDA government had increased the Minority Welfare Department’s budget 306 times and expanded welfare schemes.
Citing reduced communal violence and new schemes for education, women, and youth, Kumar urged Muslims to “remember the work done” before voting.
Nitish Kumar Accuses INDIA Bloc of Using Muslims as ‘Vote Bank’
The Bihar CM said opposition leaders were deceiving minorities for electoral gain, while his government ensured genuine representation and welfare.
Summary
On Saturday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar charged that leaders of the opposition INDIA alliance were using the Muslim community as a "vote bank" by posing as their supporters.
According to Kumar, no attempts are being made to provide the minority population with any meaningful representation, even though opposition leaders are employing a variety of strategies to win their support.
In a post on X, the CM wrote, "When elections are here, some people (leaders of Opposition parties) are again trying to portray themselves as well-wishers of the Muslim community. This is all deception. They consider Muslims as their 'vote bank' only." The CM said in the NDA government, people from the minority community are getting their due representation in every sector.
"Without any discrimination, they are getting proper representation in every field, whereas previous governments used the Muslim community only for votes and gave them no share in power", Kumar wrote.
"I humbly request people belonging to this community not to get themselves trapped into promises offered by them", he said.
"Remember the work we have done for you and then decide whom to vote for. Before 2005, there was no work for people of the Muslim community in the state. Prior to that, communal clashes used to occur frequently in different parts of the state", the CM stated.
"Since November 24, 2005, when we came to power, steps were taken for the overall development of the Muslim community. In 2025-26, the budget of the Minority Welfare Department was increased 306 times, with a provision of Rs 1080.47 crore annually," he added.
The chief minister highlighted the measures taken to prevent communal incidents, such as fencing more than 8,000 cemeteries since 2006, with 1,273 additional sites identified for fencing, 746 of which have been completed.
Referring to past incidents of communal violence, Kumar noted that, "When we got the opportunity to serve, the Bhagalpur communal riots of 1989 were investigated, strict action was taken against culprits, and compensation was provided to victims. Additionally, assistance in the form of pensions is being given to families affected by the riots. Earlier, there used to be so many Hindu-Muslim conflicts, but now there are no such disputes." After 2006, madrasas were registered and granted recognition by the state government, Kumar said.
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"Teachers in madrasas are being paid salaries equivalent to those of government teachers. Furthermore, after 2007, an assistance amount of Rs 10,000 has been provided to abandoned/divorced Muslim women to help them gain employment, which has now been increased to Rs 25,000 per month," he added.
"Useful schemes like Talimi Markaz and Hunar have been implemented for the Muslim community. Scholarships, free coaching, hostels, grants, and other schemes are being run for students and youth from the Muslim community. The Entrepreneur Scheme is providing benefits to young people to start their own businesses", the CM wrote.
With PTI inputs.
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