NEW DELHI: Is the Bharatiya Janata Party worried about the growing bonhomie between its NDA ally and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi, the son of Bihar strongman Lalu Prasad Yadav?
There is a growing proximity between Yadav scion and Kumar over the caste-based census. And it was enough to ruffle the feathers of the BJP-led central government, feels RJD vice-president Shivanand Tiwari.
Speaking to The New Indian over the phone, Tiwari said, “The raids at premises linked to Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi and Misa Bharti are a warning message for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar that you too will meet a similar fate if you go closer to RJD or its leaders.”
Tiwari said that the case (land for job) being discussed right now is an old one and has been discussed several times just like the IRCTC Sujata Hotel case.
He said that in 2017 the teams of CBI raided the house of Rabri Devi in the IRCTC Sujata Hotel case and it is being said that today’s searches are also linked to recruitment in the railways’ case.
“The timing of the raids are surprising as everyone can see that Tejashwi and Nitish Kumar are coming closer on the issue of the caste-based census,” Tiwari said.
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Tiwari said recently both the leaders met and they decided that an all-party meeting should be called for the caste-based census.
He further said that earlier too an all-party meeting was called over the issue and twice the Legislative Assembly had passed a resolution and Nitish Kumar had himself met the delegation.
“Even it is his commitment that if the centre does not agree then Bihar will bear the cost for the caste-based census. And after meeting Tejashwi, Nitish Kumar had assured of calling the all-party meeting soon on the caste-based census issue and on Wednesday he had said that he will announce the date for the same,” he said.
“So, this clearly reflects that they want to threaten Nitish Kumar. It is a warning to Nitish Kumar that if you want to have any kind of relationship with Tejashwi then he too will meet the same fate. This is the only motto of these raids,” Tiwari added.
Meanwhile, RJD spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha, said that “he was not surprised with the searches and termed it unfortunate”.
WATCH: @RJDforIndia MP @manojkjhadu says CBI raid at @laluprasadrjd's residence is part of BJP's attempt to "scare" Opposition; says, "Since @yadavtejashwi talked about unemployment,caste census& parties started coming with us, you got scared"@joymalabagchi, @Anand_Journ report pic.twitter.com/dW7fY59deR
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) May 20, 2022
In a video statement while lamenting at the BJP, Jha, who is currently in United Kingdom’s London along with Tejashwi to participate in the Ideas for India conference, said, “Not surprised with the CBI searches. We were saddened as to where the BJP is taking the country.”
He said that since the leader of the opposition in the Bihar assembly and former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav talked about the unemployment and caste-based census, all parties started coming with us to participate in the dialogue.
“You got scared and brought alive the caged parrot,” he said in a jibe at the BJP for misusing the CBI.
“If you think you can scare the RJD leaders Lalu Prasad, Tejashwi, Rabri Devi, then you don’t know the people of Bihar. Bihar is the birthplace of democracy,” he said.
“And the way you are hurting democracy, it will have a bad impact on you. I am only warning if the people of Bihar decide then you will be doomed. And it might happen soon,” the RJD leader said, adding that you can keep using CBI, which is predictable.
“Whenever you (BJP) feel threatened and whenever you feel that people are coming together on other side you try to scare. No one will get scared, nor we, nor others and nor the people of Bihar,” Jha added.