Patna: PM Narendra Modi, addressing a rally in Bikramganj on Friday, recalled his visit to Madhubani last month, a day after the Pahalgam terror attack, where he pledged swift justice. “From Madhubani, I gave my word that those behind the attack would face a punishment beyond their imagination. Today, as I return to Bihar, I have fulfilled that pledge,” he said.Modi likened terrorism to a serpent, vowing that if it dares raise its hood again, it will be “dragged from its hole and trampled.” He said the Indian armed forces had reduced to rubble the hideouts of those who masterminded the Pahalgam attack from across the border. Referring to the military response, he said Operation Sindoor was “just an arrow in the quiver,” saying that India’s battle against terrorism is far from over.Paying homage to the land of Veer Kunwar Singh, Modi praised Bihar’s legacy of courage, particularly highlighting the contributions of young men from the state serving in the armed forces and the Border Security Force (BSF). He lauded the BSF’s bravery during Operation Sindoor, describing them as “an unbreakable shield at our borders,” and paid tribute to sub-inspector Imtiaz, a BSF soldier from Bihar martyred on May 10.Modi also drew attention to Bihar’s struggle against Naxalism. Recalling earlier conditions in Sasaram, Kaimur, and neighbouring districts, he said the people once lived in fear of armed militants. “Schools were burned, road workers killed, and no hospitals or mobile towers could reach remote villages,” he said, noting that such forces had no regard for the Constitution framed by Babasaheb Ambedkar.Despite these obstacles, the PM credited CM Nitish Kumar’s leadership for pushing forward with development. He said since 2014, the Centre had intensified efforts to root out Maoist violence, leading to a drastic reduction in affected areas from over 125 districts to just 18.“The day is not far when Maoist violence will be completely eradicated. Villages will see uninterrupted peace, security, education and growth,” he said.Speaking of development, Modi said Bihar had moved on from the days of crumbling highways and outdated rail infrastructure. “There was a time when Patna had the state’s only airport. Today, Darbhanga offers direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru,” he noted. He added that the long-standing demand to modernise Patna Airport had been met, with a new terminal now capable of handling one crore passengers annually. He also announced a Rs 1,400 crore investment in Bihta airport.Modi concluded by saying that peace and security are essential foundations for progress and under Nitish’s leadership, Bihar had stepped firmly onto the path of prosperity.