Patna: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Monday asserted that he was pleased discharging his duties and never impatient to switch his boss Nitish Kumar, who was equally targeted on serving the state and never chasing Prime Ministerial ambitions. The younger RJD chief made the averment contained in the state meeting, with Kumar seated by his facet, in an obvious bid to quell speculations of a rift with the JD(U) boss on account of the insolence of many leaders of his personal social gathering who appear anxious to see him within the highest seat of energy in Bihar. Moreover, there have additionally been speculations that whereas coming into into an alliance in August final yr, a ‘deal’ was struck whereby Nitish Kumar would hand over his chair for his deputy who in flip would again him for the highest job in nationwide politics.
“Neither he wants to become the Prime Minister nor I want to become the CM. We are happy where we are,” Yadav mentioned whereas replying to the controversy on a minimize movement on the funds for the highway building division, a portfolio he holds.
A minimize movement was moved by BJP MLA Sanjay Saraogi however was defeated by a voice vote with the opposition social gathering in absentia.
Notably, Yadav’s speech was preceded by a walkout staged by BJP MLAs, led by Leader of the Opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha, who had sought the RJD chief’s reply over corruption fees which have led to circumstances lodged by central businesses like CBI and ED.
“I am here to reply to all their charges. But they chose to run away. Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition knew that I will remind him that he needs to apologise for raising, on the floor of this House, fake news of attacks on migrants in Tamil Nadu,” mentioned Yadav, in opening remarks to his impassioned speech, which lasted for practically half-hour.
“Ever since we (JD-U and RJD) joined hands, I knew that the parrot will be set free from the cage,” he mentioned, referring to the metaphor to allege using central businesses to settle political scores.
“These are strange times. Very different even from the era of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani with whom we had ideological differences. Now we see vindictiveness that seems to go beyond political and often becomes personal,” alleged Yadav, whose home was raided by the ED a few weeks in the past and whose dad and mom had been grilled by CBI.
“The ED spent 15 hours at my residence despite having completed their job in 30 minutes. Whey I asked why, they said they were under instructions to better their record in the case against (former Delhi deputy CM) Manish Sisodia at whose place they had spent 14 hours,” claimed the RJD chief.
The RJD was among the many signatories to a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in protest towards hounding out of the Aam Aadmi Party chief.
“The ED spoke of recoveries during the raids. I challenge them to show the seizure list. They claim to have recovered Rs one crore in cash. Is it a big deal when you raid at least 25 places. Even the houses of my married sisters were raided. They were made to take off the jewellery they were wearing, including their Mangalsutra which is being shown as recovery,” alleged Yadav.
“We are expecting our first child and I would love it if we are blessed with a daughter. My wife, on account of her pregnancy, suffers from erratic blood pressure. Her condition worsened when the ED raid left her confined to a spot for so long. Ultimately, we had to take her to a hospital,” he mentioned.
Yadav, who’s the youthful son and inheritor obvious to RJD president Lalu Prasad, mentioned he inherits his father’s ideological convictions and his guts.
Intimidatory techniques may by no means cow Prasad down nor would these work in his son’s case, Yadav asserted.
“What more can I ask for? My parents have both been chief ministers. I have, at such a young age, served as the Leader of the Opposition as well as the Deputy CM,” he mentioned.
“They (BJP) are scared of facing a rout in 2024 (Lok Sabha polls). They subscribe to an ideology that celebrates the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi,” alleged Yadav.
