At Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) 27th foundation day function held in Patna on Wednesday, party chief Lalu Prasad slammed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre, and said neither he nor his family members were afraid of the cases lodged against them. Days before, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed a fresh chargesheet against Mr. Prasad and his family members in the land-for-job scam.
“Neither me nor my family members are afraid of mukadama per mukadama [cases after cases]. With his efforts to unite Opposition parties, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has vowed to root out BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. What will happen to you [Mr. Modi] when your days [as PM] are over? At least we’ve earned the goodwill and are still showered with petals and garlands,” said Mr. Prasad after hoisting the party’s flag and later addressing workers and leaders at the party headquarters on Beer Chand Patel Path in Patna.
Mr. Prasad addressed his party colleagues in his inimitable style, mixing rustic wit and earthy eloquence. RJD was formed on July 5, 1997 in New Delhi.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad during the party’s 27th foundation day celebrations in Patna on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: ANI
Slamming the Modi government, Mr. Prasad further said “mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) in Bihar has been a shining example of Opposition’s unity. We must remain steadfast in our fight against communal forces and attempts to do away with the reservation system which is a legacy of Dr. Ambedkar,” Mr. Prasad said while reminding the BJP that “Karnataka election results” had already provided a “jhanki [glimpse]”.
The CBI recently filed a fresh chargesheet against Mr. Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and younger son Tejashwi Yadav, who is Deputy CM of Bihar, in the land-for job case. Mr. Yadav had earlier said that it would not be surprising if his name was added in the chargesheet of the case. “What is happening in Maharashtra [in politics] is horse trading played by BJP,” Mr. Prasad added in incoherent sentences, though he looked agile and in high spirits. The land-for-job scam pertains to allegations that land was gifted to family members of Mr. Prasad in exchange for railway jobs when Mr. Prasad was Railway Minister from 2004-2009.
Meanwhile, an overexcited RJD leader in Vaishali district, Kedar Yadav, fell off a buffalo on which he was riding while holding a cake to celebrate party’s foundation day. The buffalo, decorated with balloons, had become unruly amid the commotion caused by RJD workers who were jumping and dancing in joy. Mr. Yadav escaped unhurt in the incident.
