India, Sept. 27 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Rashtriya Janata Dal, alleging that women in poll-bound Bihar had suffered immensely under the regional party's rule, and urged them to ensure that the Lalu Prasad-led outfit and its allies never return to power in the state.

He was speaking online from Delhi after launching the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, an initiative of the Bihar government under which 7.5 million women got Rs.10,000 each in their bank accounts for starting their own venture. The outlay of the scheme was Rs.7,500 crore, part of a mega welfare push by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government ahead of elections likely to be announced next month.

Chief minister Nitis...