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Tag: Lalu Prasad Yadav

  • lok sabha elections 2024: Daughter Rohini Acharya to contest polls against Lalu Prasad Yadav in Saran

    In a bid to reclaim the Saran Lok Sabha seat, once held by her father, Rohini Acharya, daughter of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, faces competition from a namesake of her father. Laloo Prasad Yadav, a local farmer from Bihar’s Saran district, known for his penchant for contesting elections, has thrown his hat into the ring as a candidate of the Rashtriya Jansambhavna Party (RJP) for the Saran Lok Sabha seat. He submitted his nomination papers on April 26.

    Laloo Prasad Yadav’s history includes previous bids for higher office, such as filing nominations for the 2022 Presidential polls and the 2017 Presidential polls, where his papers were rejected due to insufficient endorsement. Speaking to PTI over the phone, Laloo Prasad Yadav expressed confidence in his electoral prospects, citing his longstanding engagement in agriculture, social work, and his recurrent participation in electoral contests.

    “I have been contesting Lok Sabha polls from Saran constituency for the last several terms. I had contested against former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi as well. This time, I am contesting against her daughter Rohini Acharya,” Yadav stated, further expressing optimism about securing victory.In response to criticism labeling him as ‘dharti pakad’ (one who clings on to the earth) and ‘vote katwa’ (one who divides votes), Yadav remained unfazed, asserting his commitment to representing the people of Saran.AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther States”I don’t care about all these labels. They are my opponents and they will say such things. I contest polls only for the sake of my electorate in Saran,” Yadav remarked.According to the affidavit filed by the RJP candidate, Yadav’s financial assets include Rs 5 lakh cash in hand, with his wife possessing Rs 2 lakh cash. He also owns movable assets worth Rs 17.60 lakh, while his wife’s movable assets amount to Rs 5.20 lakh.The upcoming electoral contest in Saran Lok Sabha constituency promises to be an intriguing one, with the battle lines drawn between political legacies and grassroots activism.

  • Watch: BJP Launches `Mai Modi Ka Parivar Hun` Campaign Song For Lok Sabha Elections 2024

    BJP has launched its campaign song around the slogan ‘Mai Modi Ka Parivar Hu’ for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

  • Amid Nitish Kumar’s Flip-Flop, Lalu Yadav Holds ‘Trump Card’ That Can Help Make Tejashwi CM Of Bihar |

    New Delhi: The political landscape in Bihar is currently ablaze with speculation and heated discussions, primarily centered around the rumored strains between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Janata Dal United (JDU). Despite the absence of explicit statements from either party regarding a potential split, the air is thick with anticipation for the next move by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

    Amidst this uncertainty, the RJD, under the leadership of political heavyweight Lalu Yadav, is actively crafting a counter-strategy. Lalu Yadav, renowned for his political acumen, possesses several strategic options that could potentially reshape the political narrative in Bihar.

    Political experts highlight Assembly Speaker Avadh Bihari Chaudhary as a key asset in Lalu Yadav’s current hand of cards. Chaudhary, an RJD MLA, assumed the role of the assembly speaker through the JDU alliance. Analysts suggest that, under favorable circumstances, Lalu Yadav could leverage Chaudhary’s position to execute strategic political maneuvers, possibly positioning his son, Tejashwi Yadav, as the next Chief Minister of Bihar.

    In the intricate dance of political alliances, it’s crucial to understand the party dynamics in the Bihar Assembly. With a total of 243 seats, the magic number for forming a government is 122. In the 2020 assembly elections, RJD emerged as the largest party with 79 seats, closely followed by the BJP at 78 seats. Nitish Kumar’s JDU secured 45 seats, Congress 19, Left 16, HAM party 5, and one independent.

    Lalu Yadav’s array of options includes the prospect of forming an RJD government by presenting letters of support from 79 RJD, 19 Congress, 16 Communist parties, and independent MLAs. While this would fall seven short of the majority, tactics inspired by the Maharashtra model could be employed. The RJD might attempt to woo JDU MLAs, potentially creating a separate faction under the RJD quota, mirroring the strategy used in Maharashtra.

    Facing potential obstacles, Lalu Yadav could also explore influencing the floor test by convincing JDU MLAs to be absent, thereby reducing the majority figure. Alternatively, inducing resignations from some JDU MLAs could strategically diminish opposition numbers in the assembly, paving the way for RJD to realize its government formation aspirations.

    However, the biggest hurdle in Lalu Yadav’s path is Governor Rajendra Arlekar. The success of these intricate political moves hinges on the Governor’s acceptance of Lalu Yadav’s claim to form the government. If the Governor favors Nitish Kumar, the seasoned political strategist Lalu Yadav might find his arsenal of options rendered powerless. The coming days promise a riveting political saga in Bihar as the battle for power and strategic maneuvering intensifies. Stay tuned for updates on this evolving political drama.

  • Will Nitish Kumar Join NDA Again? Late Evening Meeting Between Bihar CM, Lalu-Tejashwi Fuels Speculation |

    With the Lok Sabha elections approaching closer, speculations of a rift between Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and RJD leaders Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav have again taken centre stage. While Lau-Tejashwi met Kumar at his residence yesterday, a JD(U) minister claimed that the doors of NDA are still open. On the other hand, a meeting was held at BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha’s residence as well.

    It’s being claimed that Nitish Kumar, who was upset after the RJD did not back him for the INDIA Bloc’s convenor post, is now not ready to cede space for the RJD to contest more seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The seat-sharing issue is the latest bone of contention between the JDU and the RJD. There is widespread speculation that the JD(U), having secured 16 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as part of the NDA alliance, may be unwilling to accept a reduced seat count in the upcoming elections. Meanwhile, the RJD, despite not winning any seats previously, is expected to assert its claim for a substantial share, emphasizing its larger numerical representation in the assembly.

    RJD president Lalu Prasad, accompanied by his son Tejashwi Yadav, the Deputy CM, called on ally Nitish Kumar at his residence. After the meeting, Tejashwi Yadav said that there is no rift between the parties and both parties will contest a respectable number of seats.

    “I feel sorry when you people ask questions that seem so divorced from ground reality. Why is there so much curiosity about when seat-sharing was likely to be final in Mahagathbandhan? Has the BJP-led NDA sorted it out in its own camp? Nobody cares about that,” said Yadav.

    Yadav was also asked about Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s interview with a Hindi daily in which his response to a query on Kumar, who dumped the BJP less than two years ago, was being interpreted as an admission of doors not being shut on the JD(U) boss. Shah said that if a proposal comes, then the BJP will think about that. Now, Bihar’s Building and Construction Minister Ashok Chaudhary claimed Shah has never said that the doors of the NDA are closed for JD(U). “Amit Shah never said that NDA’s doors for the JD(U) are closed. He always said that if JD(U) sends a proposal on it, then he would consider it. We have not given any proposal to the BJP,” Chaudhary said.

    Meanwhile, the JDU’s X handle has posted a video in which Tejashwi Yadav has almost disappered. In the 1.29 minutes long video that claims Bihar’s overall development under Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi was seen only once for a few seconds.

    सबकी मददगार… नीतीश सरकार।

    बिहार में हर वर्ग और हर तबके के लोगों का हो रहा उत्थान।#JDU #bihar #Nitishkumar #NitishModel pic.twitter.com/odmfEj6NMt


    — Janata Dal (United) (@Jduonline) January 20, 2024

    However, it is being said that Kumar wants the BJP to make a move first. In August 2022, Kumar, a former ally of the BJP, terminated the alliance, accusing the saffron party of attempting to divide the JD(U) and expressing determination to defeat the NDA in 2024 by uniting the entire opposition. He played a pivotal role in forming the INDIA bloc and hosted its inaugural meeting in Patna, where leaders opposed to the BJP came together, setting aside past differences.

    Kumar recently got appointed as the JD(U) president succeeding his close aide Rajiv Ranjan Singh “Lalan,” who was rumored to have developed close ties with the RJD camp. Despite being the longest-serving Chief Minister of the state, Kumar had, a few months ago, criticized the Congress for losing focus on INDIA due to its preoccupation with assembly polls in select states.

  • BREAKING: Seat-Sharing In INDIA Bloc Will Take Time, Says RJD Supremo Lalu Yadav |

    NEW DELHI: Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Wednesday said that the process of reaching an agreement on seat-sharing within the opposition INDIA bloc is a time-consuming task. He also dispelled rumours of a discord with Janata Dal-United president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Speaking to reporters, Lalu stated, “Seat sharing does not happen so quickly in an alliance… it will take time.”

     

    Patna, Bihar | RJD chief Lalu Yadav says “Seat sharing does not happen so quickly in an alliance…. I will not go to Ayodhya to attend the pran pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple” pic.twitter.com/lvzN7hogQM
    — ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2024

     

    Lalu Declines Ayodhya’s Ram Temple Invite

    Simultaneously, the veteran Bihar politician declined an invitation to attend the Ram Temple Pran Pratistha ceremony scheduled for January 22 in Ayodhya. Clarifying his decision, Lalu told reporters, “I will not go to Ayodhya to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple.” Lalu further said that he would go to Ayodhya for a ‘darshan’ of Ram Lalla. He also said that he would write a letter to Ram Temple Trust member Champat Rai, explaining the reason for not coming to attend the ceremony. 

    INDIA Allies Grapple With Seat-Sharing Consensus

    Despite numerous rounds of discussions, INDIA allies continue to grapple with the challenge of reaching a consensus on seat-sharing for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The ongoing struggle further intensified with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar declining the offer to become the convener of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

    Growing Discord Within INDIA Bloc

    The Janata Dal (United) has expressed disappointment over the bloc’s failure to finalize seat-sharing arrangements and strategize for the upcoming parliamentary polls. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge emerged as the consensus chairperson, but West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposed Nitish Kumar’s candidature as convener.

    Seat-sharing talks in Bihar among the ruling coalition members faced hurdles over differences in seat adjustment and allotment. JD(U), Congress, and the Left parties, particularly CPI-ML (Liberation), played hardball during the negotiations.

    Kumar’s Strategic Move: Refusal To Become Convener Raises Stakes

    Despite being offered the post, JD(U) chief Kumar declined to become the convener of INDIA, reinforcing his commitment to not taking up any post in the coalition. This strategic move by Kumar keeps opposition parties guessing about his next steps, adding complexity to the ongoing political dynamics.

    Kumar’s refusal to become convener is anticipated to elevate his stature in Bihar politics. As a key figure in the state’s triangular politics, involving the RJD, BJP, and JD(U), Kumar’s decision provides him with multiple strategic options. The upcoming weeks are deemed crucial in Bihar politics, with all parties striving to align their equations effectively, according to political analysts.

  • Lalu praises Rahul for social justice principle, says no difficulty in deciding opposition’s PM face

    Express News Service

    PATNA: With the Opposition bloc ‘INDIA’ yet to resolve the contentious issue of deciding its Prime Ministerial face for the 2024 Lok Sabha election, RJD chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Thursday heaped praise on former Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his adherence to the principle of social justice. 

    Speaking on the occasion of  Bihar’s first chief minister Sri Krishna Singh’s birth anniversary at the Congress headquarters here, Lalu said, “We have kept the flag of social justice high and so Rahul is also doing.”

    He also praised Rahul for announcing that a caste-based survey would be conducted in the entire country if the ‘INDIA’ alliance is voted to power at the centre in 2024. The RJD president also contended that the Prime Ministerial candidate for the ‘INDIA’ alliance would be decided without any difficulty.

    Incidentally, Lalu did not talk about alliance partner and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar a single time when he was applauding Rahul for his ‘adherence’ to the principle of social justice and his announcement for the caste-based survey. 

    Lalu said that the BJP was desperate after the release of the caste-based survey and questioned how it was possible for any caste having a population of one per cent to demand more posts. The RJD supremo claimed that power would be “shared in proportion” to the population of various castes and that the BJP would be moved out of power.

    This was Lalu’s first visit to the Congress headquarters ‘Sadaqat Ashram’ after six years. Congress leaders said that the last time Lalu had visited Sadaquat Ashram was in 2017.

    “We are working together and we are going to organise a ‘Remove BJP, Save Country’ rally in the state capital. The wave of change will emanating from there and it will sweep the entire country as BJP is set to suffer a crushing defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha election,” Lalu said.

    He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and RSS would not be able to do anything in the election. 

    Lalu also claimed that the BJP knew well it would lose in assembly elections across the five states to be held in November and would also suffer defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. He contended that it was the reason central agencies like ED, CBI and the Income Tax department were conducting raids on the premises of opposition leaders and lodging cases against them. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    PATNA: With the Opposition bloc ‘INDIA’ yet to resolve the contentious issue of deciding its Prime Ministerial face for the 2024 Lok Sabha election, RJD chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Thursday heaped praise on former Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his adherence to the principle of social justice. 

    Speaking on the occasion of  Bihar’s first chief minister Sri Krishna Singh’s birth anniversary at the Congress headquarters here, Lalu said, “We have kept the flag of social justice high and so Rahul is also doing.”

    He also praised Rahul for announcing that a caste-based survey would be conducted in the entire country if the ‘INDIA’ alliance is voted to power at the centre in 2024. The RJD president also contended that the Prime Ministerial candidate for the ‘INDIA’ alliance would be decided without any difficulty.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Incidentally, Lalu did not talk about alliance partner and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar a single time when he was applauding Rahul for his ‘adherence’ to the principle of social justice and his announcement for the caste-based survey. 

    Lalu said that the BJP was desperate after the release of the caste-based survey and questioned how it was possible for any caste having a population of one per cent to demand more posts. The RJD supremo claimed that power would be “shared in proportion” to the population of various castes and that the BJP would be moved out of power.

    This was Lalu’s first visit to the Congress headquarters ‘Sadaqat Ashram’ after six years. Congress leaders said that the last time Lalu had visited Sadaquat Ashram was in 2017.

    “We are working together and we are going to organise a ‘Remove BJP, Save Country’ rally in the state capital. The wave of change will emanating from there and it will sweep the entire country as BJP is set to suffer a crushing defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha election,” Lalu said.

    He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and RSS would not be able to do anything in the election. 

    Lalu also claimed that the BJP knew well it would lose in assembly elections across the five states to be held in November and would also suffer defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. He contended that it was the reason central agencies like ED, CBI and the Income Tax department were conducting raids on the premises of opposition leaders and lodging cases against them. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Lalu Prasad Yadav takes the fizz off Nitish’s PM race

    Express News Service

    PATNA / NEW DELHI:  Pouring cold water on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s prime ministerial ambitions, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Thursday hinted that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi might be his choice for the Opposition’s PM pick in 2024. Before leaving for Delhi for his routine health check-up, Lalu told reporters in Patna that the next prime minister of the country should not live in the PM’s official residence without a wife.

    “Staying in PM’s residence without a wife is wrong and that should be done away with,” he quipped. His satirical comment was in response to a query that if his recent advice to Rahul ‘to get married’ meant he preferred the Congress leader to be the Opposition’s PM candidate.

    In the recent Opposition meeting in Patna, Lalu had praised Rahul’s efforts during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and his parliamentary speeches. While Rahul remains single, Bihar CM Nitish’s wife passed away in 2007. According to sources, a cold war is brewing between Lalu and Nitish with the recent transfer of a senior IAS officer close to the RJD leader being the latest trigger.

    After reaching Delhi, Lalu said the BJP’s days in power are limited and that the entire Opposition is united in their mission to protect democracy. Hitting out at the BJP, he said the party is two-faced and ridiculed how Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now welcoming leaders from rival parties such as the NCP in Maharashtra, who were till recently labelled as corrupt by him.

    PATNA / NEW DELHI:  Pouring cold water on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s prime ministerial ambitions, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Thursday hinted that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi might be his choice for the Opposition’s PM pick in 2024. Before leaving for Delhi for his routine health check-up, Lalu told reporters in Patna that the next prime minister of the country should not live in the PM’s official residence without a wife.

    “Staying in PM’s residence without a wife is wrong and that should be done away with,” he quipped. His satirical comment was in response to a query that if his recent advice to Rahul ‘to get married’ meant he preferred the Congress leader to be the Opposition’s PM candidate.

    In the recent Opposition meeting in Patna, Lalu had praised Rahul’s efforts during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and his parliamentary speeches. While Rahul remains single, Bihar CM Nitish’s wife passed away in 2007. According to sources, a cold war is brewing between Lalu and Nitish with the recent transfer of a senior IAS officer close to the RJD leader being the latest trigger.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    After reaching Delhi, Lalu said the BJP’s days in power are limited and that the entire Opposition is united in their mission to protect democracy. Hitting out at the BJP, he said the party is two-faced and ridiculed how Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now welcoming leaders from rival parties such as the NCP in Maharashtra, who were till recently labelled as corrupt by him.

  • Land for jobs scam: Tejashwi to appear before CBI; not to be arrested this month

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI:  The CBI on Thursday assured the Delhi High Court it will not arrest Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav this month, after which the politician agreed he will appear before the central probe agency on March 25 for questioning in connection with a case related to the alleged land for jobs scam.

    Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma recorded the CBI counsel’s statement that the agency was not thinking about arresting Tejashwi Yadav this month.

    Following the assurance, senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing Tejashwi Yadav, submitted to the court his client will appear on March 25 before the investigating officer at CBI headquarters in Delhi at 10:30 am.

    Noting the submissions by both parties, the high court disposed of the petition, in which Tejashwi Yadav has sought quashing of the summons issued to him by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

    RJD supremo and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son Tejashwi in his plea said he had requested the investigating officer through multiple letters to allow him some time as the current Bihar Assembly session will conclude on April 5.

    He said he had requested that either he be allowed to appear in the CBI office at Patna or if any information or documents are required from his side then he shall provide the same through his authorised representative at New Delhi.

    The case relates to alleged appointments made in the railways in return for land parcels gifted or sold to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family when he was the railway minister between 2004 and 2009.

    The CBI, in its chargesheet, alleged that irregular appointments were made in the railways, violating norms and procedures of the Indian Railways for recruitment.

    READ MORE:

    Land for jobs scam: Court grants bail to Lalu, Rabri and Misa Bharti

    ED’s ‘Rs 600 cr crime proceeds’ rumours, make panchnama public: Tejashwi

    NEW DELHI:  The CBI on Thursday assured the Delhi High Court it will not arrest Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav this month, after which the politician agreed he will appear before the central probe agency on March 25 for questioning in connection with a case related to the alleged land for jobs scam.

    Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma recorded the CBI counsel’s statement that the agency was not thinking about arresting Tejashwi Yadav this month.

    Following the assurance, senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing Tejashwi Yadav, submitted to the court his client will appear on March 25 before the investigating officer at CBI headquarters in Delhi at 10:30 am.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Noting the submissions by both parties, the high court disposed of the petition, in which Tejashwi Yadav has sought quashing of the summons issued to him by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

    RJD supremo and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son Tejashwi in his plea said he had requested the investigating officer through multiple letters to allow him some time as the current Bihar Assembly session will conclude on April 5.

    He said he had requested that either he be allowed to appear in the CBI office at Patna or if any information or documents are required from his side then he shall provide the same through his authorised representative at New Delhi.

    The case relates to alleged appointments made in the railways in return for land parcels gifted or sold to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family when he was the railway minister between 2004 and 2009.

    The CBI, in its chargesheet, alleged that irregular appointments were made in the railways, violating norms and procedures of the Indian Railways for recruitment.

    READ MORE:

    Land for jobs scam: Court grants bail to Lalu, Rabri and Misa Bharti

    ED’s ‘Rs 600 cr crime proceeds’ rumours, make panchnama public: Tejashwi

  • Uproar in Bihar assembly over ED raids at residences of Tejashwi, family members

    Express News Service

    PATNA: The Bihar assembly witnessed noisy scenes over the recent Enforcement Directorate (ED)’s raids on the residential premises of deputy chief minister Tejashwi and others as RJD demanded the enactment of a law to stop central agencies from conducting raids without prior permission from the state government.

    As the House was re-assembled after Holi vacation and ED raids on the premises of Tejashwi’s residence in New Delhi, his three sisters and associates of RJD chief Lalu Prasad in connection with money laundering case related to the alleged land-for-jobs scam, RJD MLA Bhai Birendra said that legal provisions should be made, making it mandatory for ED and CBI to take prior permission from the state government before taking any action in the state. He said that such provisions had been made in West Bengal and other states and these should be made in Bihar too.

    CBI had also recently questioned former chief minister Rabri Devi in the state capital and Lalu Prasad in New Delhi in connection with the land-for-jobs scam.

    It is alleged that those wishing to secure group ‘D’ posts in the railway gifted or sold land parcels at cheap rates to the Lalu family when the RJD chief was the railway minister in the former UPA-I government from 2004 to 2009.

    Addressing the speaker Awadh Bihari Choudhary, RJD MLA Bhai Birendra said that the Centre was misusing the central agencies like ED and CBI. He also appealed to the chief minister Nitish Kumar who was present in the house to enact a law to make it mandatory for the central agencies to take prior permission from the state government before taking any action in the state.

    The speaker, however, asked the RJD MLA to resume his seat and let the house conduct its normal proceedings.

    MLAs belonging to Congress and left parties also registered their protest in the House against the questioning of Lalu and his associates in the case. MLAs from CPI (ML) and other left parties carrying placards demanded a check on the ED raids. They also alleged that the raids conducted on the premises ofLalu and his family members were politically motivated.

    Congress legislative party leader Ajit Sharma alleged that the Centre was misusing ED and CBI as it was perturbed over the grand alliance`s ‘edge’ on Bihar`s all 40 Lok Sabha seats. Attempts are being made by the Centre to harass the state`s opposition parties which are getting stronger all the time, he added.

    On the other hand, BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur Bachol said Tejashwi should resign from the post for the sake of an “impartial” probe in a money laundering case related to the land-for-jobs scam. He contended that Tejashwi could influence the investigation into the case if he continued in his post.

    Meanwhile, Tejashwi returned from New Delhi on Monday and met with Nitish who was sitting in his official chamber of the assembly. He apprised the CM of details of ED raids conducted at his residence and also at the residences of his sisters.

    Tejashwi later tweeted, “We are not ‘fake entire political science people but socialist people of real public science. We have political land (strength), courage and character to fight against BJP leaders’ falsehoods, rumours and fake political cases. Listen Sanghis, we have people’s power if you have money powerand guile.”

    PATNA: The Bihar assembly witnessed noisy scenes over the recent Enforcement Directorate (ED)’s raids on the residential premises of deputy chief minister Tejashwi and others as RJD demanded the enactment of a law to stop central agencies from conducting raids without prior permission from the state government.

    As the House was re-assembled after Holi vacation and ED raids on the premises of Tejashwi’s residence in New Delhi, his three sisters and associates of RJD chief Lalu Prasad in connection with money laundering case related to the alleged land-for-jobs scam, RJD MLA Bhai Birendra said that legal provisions should be made, making it mandatory for ED and CBI to take prior permission from the state government before taking any action in the state. He said that such provisions had been made in West Bengal and other states and these should be made in Bihar too.

    CBI had also recently questioned former chief minister Rabri Devi in the state capital and Lalu Prasad in New Delhi in connection with the land-for-jobs scam.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    It is alleged that those wishing to secure group ‘D’ posts in the railway gifted or sold land parcels at cheap rates to the Lalu family when the RJD chief was the railway minister in the former UPA-I government from 2004 to 2009.

    Addressing the speaker Awadh Bihari Choudhary, RJD MLA Bhai Birendra said that the Centre was misusing the central agencies like ED and CBI. He also appealed to the chief minister Nitish Kumar who was present in the house to enact a law to make it mandatory for the central agencies to take prior permission from the state government before taking any action in the state.

    The speaker, however, asked the RJD MLA to resume his seat and let the house conduct its normal proceedings.

    MLAs belonging to Congress and left parties also registered their protest in the House against the questioning of Lalu and his associates in the case. MLAs from CPI (ML) and other left parties carrying placards demanded a check on the ED raids. They also alleged that the raids conducted on the premises of
    Lalu and his family members were politically motivated.

    Congress legislative party leader Ajit Sharma alleged that the Centre was misusing ED and CBI as it was perturbed over the grand alliance`s ‘edge’ on Bihar`s all 40 Lok Sabha seats. Attempts are being made by the Centre to harass the state`s opposition parties which are getting stronger all the time, he added.

    On the other hand, BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur Bachol said Tejashwi should resign from the post for the sake of an “impartial” probe in a money laundering case related to the land-for-jobs scam. He contended that Tejashwi could influence the investigation into the case if he continued in his post.

    Meanwhile, Tejashwi returned from New Delhi on Monday and met with Nitish who was sitting in his official chamber of the assembly. He apprised the CM of details of ED raids conducted at his residence and also at the residences of his sisters.

    Tejashwi later tweeted, “We are not ‘fake entire political science people but socialist people of real public science. We have political land (strength), courage and character to fight against BJP leaders’ falsehoods, rumours and fake political cases. Listen Sanghis, we have people’s power if you have money power
    and guile.”

  • Tejashwi calls ED’s ‘Rs 600 crore crime proceeds’ claim rumours, says make panchnama public

    By PTI

    PATNA: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday dubbed as “rumours” the claim of the Enforcement Directorate that proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 600 crore were detected during searches on premises owned by him and close family members.

    The RJD leader, who is currently away in Delhi beside his wife who is expecting their first child, also said the BJP will be left embarrassed if he made public the “panchnama” (seizure list) signed after the raids.

    “Just recall, in 2007, transactions worth Rs 8,000 crore, including a mall and hundreds of land plots, were alleged”, tweeted Yadav, in an obvious reference to the alleged land-for-hotels scam pertaining to his father Lalu Prasad’s tenure as the railway minister.

    Now facing the heat in the land-for-jobs ‘scam’ pertaining to, roughly, the same period, Yadav also recalled his name being linked to a mall seized in Gurugram, which turned out to be owned by a private company.

    The RJD had threatened legal action against media outlets for “wrongly” reporting that Yadav, the party supremo’s son and heir apparent, owned the commercial establishment.

    ALSO READ | Land for jobs ‘scam’: Tejashwi skips CBI questioning, seeks fresh date

    “The BJP government (at the Centre) spreading rumours again, quoting sources. It should have asked its spin doctors to first settle the account on the previous operations, before coming up with the new tale of Rs 600 crore”, the RJD leader said.

    Earlier in the day, the Enforcement Directorate said it has seized “unaccounted cash” of Rs 1 crore and “detected proceeds of crime worth Rs 600 crore” after it raided RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s family in connection with a money laundering case linked to the railways land-for-jobs ‘scam’.

    “Let them make public the panchnama (seizure list) signed after the raids. If we do so on our own, think of the embarrassment that these BJP leaders will have to face”, added Yadav, who peppered his two tweets with quite a few smileys to assert that he was taking it all on the chin.

    The ED had launched raids on Friday at multiple locations linked to Prasad’s family members, including that of his son Tejashwi in Delhi.

    The Central Bureau of Investigation had recently questioned Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi — former chief ministers of Bihar — in the case.

    ALSO READ: Lalu furious over pregnant daughter-in-law’s harassment during ED raids

    PATNA: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday dubbed as “rumours” the claim of the Enforcement Directorate that proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 600 crore were detected during searches on premises owned by him and close family members.

    The RJD leader, who is currently away in Delhi beside his wife who is expecting their first child, also said the BJP will be left embarrassed if he made public the “panchnama” (seizure list) signed after the raids.

    “Just recall, in 2007, transactions worth Rs 8,000 crore, including a mall and hundreds of land plots, were alleged”, tweeted Yadav, in an obvious reference to the alleged land-for-hotels scam pertaining to his father Lalu Prasad’s tenure as the railway minister.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Now facing the heat in the land-for-jobs ‘scam’ pertaining to, roughly, the same period, Yadav also recalled his name being linked to a mall seized in Gurugram, which turned out to be owned by a private company.

    The RJD had threatened legal action against media outlets for “wrongly” reporting that Yadav, the party supremo’s son and heir apparent, owned the commercial establishment.

    ALSO READ | Land for jobs ‘scam’: Tejashwi skips CBI questioning, seeks fresh date

    “The BJP government (at the Centre) spreading rumours again, quoting sources. It should have asked its spin doctors to first settle the account on the previous operations, before coming up with the new tale of Rs 600 crore”, the RJD leader said.

    Earlier in the day, the Enforcement Directorate said it has seized “unaccounted cash” of Rs 1 crore and “detected proceeds of crime worth Rs 600 crore” after it raided RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s family in connection with a money laundering case linked to the railways land-for-jobs ‘scam’.

    “Let them make public the panchnama (seizure list) signed after the raids. If we do so on our own, think of the embarrassment that these BJP leaders will have to face”, added Yadav, who peppered his two tweets with quite a few smileys to assert that he was taking it all on the chin.

    The ED had launched raids on Friday at multiple locations linked to Prasad’s family members, including that of his son Tejashwi in Delhi.

    The Central Bureau of Investigation had recently questioned Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi — former chief ministers of Bihar — in the case.

    ALSO READ: Lalu furious over pregnant daughter-in-law’s harassment during ED raids