PURNEA, Sept. 16 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday made a blistering attack on the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress accusing them of patronising infiltrators in Assam, Bihar, Bengal and reiterated that the Centre is committed to drive them out. The PM was in Bihar to unveil the new terminal building of the Purnea Airport and kick off a slew of projects worth Rs.40,000 crore. "The people of Bihar and the country are going to give a befitting reply to the issues that Congress and RJD are raising in support of infiltration," the PM said and expressed thanks to women for keeping RJD and Congress out of power for over two decades in Bihar. "Undoubtedly the biggest role in keeping them out of power is of my mothers and sisters of Bihar and I pay special respects to them." He reminded the people of his Independence Day speech and said, "I challenge the leaders who are shielding the infiltrators, who came forward to protect the infiltrators. No matter how much effort you put in to save them, we will continue to work on the resolve of driving out the infiltrators. This is Modi's guarantee." He said, "Action will be taken against the infiltrators and the country will also see its good results." Attacking the RJD era, the PM said, "During the RJD era, the biggest victims of crimes like rape and murder were my mothers and sisters." He praised the leadership of chief minister Nitish Kumar. "In double engine government, the same women (who were suffering earlier) are transforming our society by becoming Lakhpati and drone Didis." The PM praised Nitish Kumar for his commendable work on the formation of self-help groups. "Leaders of RJD and Congress are concerned about their families, whereas Modi believes in 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'. For them, it is Pariwar ka saath pariwar ka vikas," he said. "Whenever Bihar moves forward, these people (RJD and Congress) get busy insulting Bihar. You must have seen that recently a Congress leader compared Bihar to a bidi on social media (referring to a tweet by the Kerala unit of the Congress)," he said. "The Congress leaders say 'bidis' and Bihar start with B. This is a sheer insult to the state and its people. They will give a befitting reply to the Congress and its alliance partners in the coming days," Modi said. Modi highlighted the significant role played by a brave son (Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti) of Purnea in the strategic execution of the operation. He emphasised that whether it is national security or national development, Bihar plays a vital role in the country's progress. He concluded by urging that the momentum of Bihar's development campaign must continue with full force. Addressing a well-attended rally at Sheeshabari located at the confluence of three national highways (NH-31, NH-27 and NH-131-A) after inaugurating the new terminal building of Purnea airport, the fourth one after Patna, Gaya Ji and Darbhanga and launch of National Makhana Board besides inaugurating and laying foundation stones of multiple developmental projects worth around 40,000 crores, the PM said, "The airport will bring prosperity to the Seemanchal which faced years of neglect in the previous governments." Taking a potshot at Rahul Gandhi for wading into Makhana field during his Voter Adhikar Yatra, Modi said, "Those who are moving in Bihar hardly knew the name of makhana, it is our government that made it popular," expressing his government's commitment to provide all possible help to farmers. He announced that the Central government has issued the notification for the board's establishment on Sunday itself, a day before his arrival in Purnea. he further stated, emphasising that the board will work continuously to ensure better prices for makhana farmers and to enhance the use of technology in the sector. He further highlighted that the government has approved a plan worth nearly Rs.475 crore for the development of the makhana sector. Bihar accounts for approximately 90% of the country's total Makhana production. Key districts like Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Saharsa, Katihar, Purnea, Supaul, Kishanganj and Araria serve as the primary hubs since they have favourable climatic conditions and fertile soil that contribute to the superior quality of makhana. The establishment of the Makhana Board in Bihar will give a major boost to the Makhana production in the State and the country and strengthen the presence of Bihar on the global map in this sector. Modi emphasised that for him, every citizen is part of his family and said, "With several festivals approaching, including Diwali, Chhath, a major gift from the government for the poor and middle class will be lowering of GST." He noted, "On the day of Navratri falling on next week, the rate of GST will be lowered on most daily use items to ease kitchen expenses." Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar hailed Narendra Modi for his development projects and hoped this would make Bihar prosperous. "We are intact doing the work for Bihar's progress and prosperity." The development projects inaugurated by the PM include the sex sorted semen facility at Purnea, a semen station under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission capable of producing 500,000 sex sorted semen doses annually, worth over Rs.64 crores. A long-time demand of the people, the PM laid the foundation stone of Phase-1 of the Kosi-Mechi Intra-State River Link project worth over Rs.6,282.32 crores. The project is believed to provide 210,516 hectares of additional annual irrigation in the Kharif season in Seemanchal's four districts, Purnea, Araria, Katihar and Kishanganj of Bihar. The PM also laid the foundation stone of the 3X800 MW Ultra-Super Critical Thermal Power Project, Bihar's largest private sector investment at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur, worth Rs. 25,000 crores. The PM also handed over keys to the 40,920 rural and urban beneficiaries of PM Awas Yojna and participated in Griha Pravesh ceremonies worth Rs.603 crores, fulfilling their dream of their own houses and distributed community investment funds of around Rs.500 crores to under DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojna-national Rural Livelihoods Mission) for women empowerment and rural development....