RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday alleged that the law-and-order situation has completely collapsed in Bihar, and the NDA Government in the state was “least bothered” about the situation.
Addressing back-to-back poll rallies in Saran, Yadav asserted that the INDIA bloc needs to be voted to power in the assembly elections for the redressal of people’s grievances. He also voiced disapproval of the prohibition policy in Bihar, and declared that the INDIA bloc will remove the ban on ‘toddy’ (tari) if it comes to power.
“Saran is witnessing murder, dacoity, abduction and loot every day. But Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is least bothered about it. He never comes to console the victims. This is sheer insensitivity on the part of the government,” he claimed at the rally in Marhaura.
“Vote for the INDIA bloc to ensure improved law and order, jobs and redressal of grievances,” Yadav said.
The opposition coalition’s chief ministerial candidate also reiterated his promise of one government job to every family in the state if it comes to power.
At the rally in Taraiya assembly constituency of Saran, Yadav said: “People of Bihar are fed up with unemployment and price hike. They want a government that will ensure ‘padhai, dawai, kamai, sichai’ (better education, health facilities, employment and irrigation facilities).”
The RJD leader, at another rally in the Parsa assembly constituency, criticised the prohibition policy in Bihar.
“The Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act has completely failed in Bihar. There is a home delivery system of liquor in the state and people are easily availing it,” he claimed.
“If we are voted to power, we will remove the ban on ‘toddy’ (tari),” Yadav said.
The sale and consumption of ‘toddy’ is prohibited in the state under the Act.
Yadav also asserted that the developmental work that the NDA could not execute in 20 years, the INDIA bloc will carry out in 20 months if it comes to power. “We just want 20 months for this,” he said.
In a word of caution for officials, the RJD leader said that any officer who tries to create trouble “in collusion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah” will face such severe punishment.
“We will not allow vote theft or dishonesty under any circumstances,” he added.
The 243-member Bihar Assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with results set to be announced on November 14.
Chirag Paswan slams INDIA bloc
Patna: Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Tuesday said the naming of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as the chief ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc has revived memories of “jungle raj” in Bihar. Paswan said the move has taken away even “a sliver of a chance” the opposition alliance had in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) made the remark while responding to questions from journalists about Yadav’s jibe at the NDA’s alleged inability to name its own CM candidate. The Hajipur MP said, “How many times does it need to be said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the NDA’s face. When Union Home Minister Amit Shah simply spoke about the due procedure, the opposition is twisting that out of context”.
Shah, the BJP’s principal strategist, was recently asked whether he could affirm that Kumar, who heads the JD(U), will continue as the chief minister, despite age-related health issues, if the NDA won the polls. Shah had replied, “Who am I to say so. Yes, we are contesting the polls under Nitish Kumar’s leadership. After the elections, who would be the CM is a decision that NDA legislators shall jointly take”. This has led to speculations in a section of the media that the BJP, which has not headed a government in Bihar so far, was having second thoughts on the JD(U) supremo. Paswan trained his guns at Yadav, saying, “By mistake, and under pressure from his party, he has been named as CM candidate and he is behaving as if he is already the CM. The reason why Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had been refraining from doing so was that he is aware that as soon as the RJD leader is projected, people will start recalling the jungle raj and recoil in fear”.
“So, by naming him (Yadav) the CM, the INDIA bloc has given up the half per cent chance it might have had. And what do they hope to gain by promising Mukesh Sahni the Deputy CM’s post? The way he has been coerced into submission by the RJD is not lost on his Nishad community”, alleged Paswan.
He also chuckled at the statement of RJD general secretary Abdul Bari Siddiqui that Yadav has a long way to go before he could be called “Jan Nayak”, an epithet associated with Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur.
Paswan said, “To call oneself a hero of the people betrays utter lack of humility. No wonder, it has triggered resentment in his own party. He is yet to make a mark for himself. The legacy that he carries (of father and RJD president Lalu Prasad) is all about jungle raj”.
Saran is witnessing murder, dacoity, abduction and loot every day. But Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is least bothered about it. He never comes to console the victims. This is sheer insensitivity on the part of the government —Tejashwi Yadav, RJD leader
