It was business as usual at the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on the first day of its two-day national executive meeting as it elected party patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav as its national president for the 12th time.
Addressing the media, RJD Spokesperson Manoj Jha said, โLalu ji was unanimously elected as RJD chief for the 12th time.โ
Apart from the obvious, the party also discussed and deliberated on key issues, including opposition unity ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Jha, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, said that three political resolutions were discussed during the meeting. Jha also said that the foreign and economic policies of the government were discussed. All three resolutions will be passed tomorrow, he added.
Jha also said that senior party leaders Sharad Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav addressed the delegates and highlighted that the political and economic condition of the country is very bad.
โThey pointed out how unemployment is the highest in the last five decades and the government has no blueprint for the same. When you raise the issue of unemployment, they will debate on bulldozers and hijab,โ he charged.
Jha also said that the political change in Bihar is a very big step, as political parties overcame their differences to join hands. โThe country needs a new direction,โ the RJD leader said.
โFollowing the development in Bihar, opposition parties have started meeting, and once we sit together, it will give us a good option to find someone who is not focused on himself,โ Jha said. โWe have seen the self-centred politics which has destroyed a lot of things in the last eight and a half years,โ he said.
Commenting on the opposition unity, Jha said, โWe have to take this (the political change in Bihar) together across the country. The opposition will sit together and will bring a progressive document so that on the 75th year of independence the heritage of our ancestors is not destroyed.โ
โOn opposition unity, Lalu Prasad, Sharad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav said that we will sit together and discuss issues. Democracy is run by collectiveness. And when collectiveness ends in democracy, then people like Narendra Modi come. An alternative for Narendra Modi is the collectiveness of opposition.โ
When asked about the absence of veteran leader Jagadanad Singh from the meeting, Jha said, โJagadanand Singh is like a guardian and he has very good relations with the party leadership. His absence from a single meeting today canโt put a question mark on his presence everywhere at the party. He is with us, he was with us and will remain with us.โ
When asked about the CBI charge sheet against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti and the questioning of Tejashwi Yadavโs aide Sanjay Yadav by the CBI in the land for job scam, Jha said, โDonโt call it a CBI charge sheet. It is a BJP charge sheet. And it is because we are not following their path.โ
โYou (BJP) have destroyed the institutions and its character, but remember, no one will remain in power forever. Tomorrow you will not be there, but the precedent you have set will also harm you,โ he warned.
Talking about Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwatโs remarks on ending the caste system, Jha said, โWill tell Bhagwatji that what you say needs to be done. You pay floral tributes to Ambedkar, but you donโt have the courage to adopt his ideology.โ โSoon caste-based nexus will start in Bihar and it will be an example for the entire country,โ Jha added.
