News Analysis India

Tag: Tejashwi Yadav

  • hemant soren arrest: “Blow to Federalism”: Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, Tejashwi assails Centre over Hemant Soren’s resignastion

    Reacting sharply to the resignation of Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that forcing Hemant Soren to resign is a blow to Federalism. In a post on ‘X’, Mallikarjun Kharge said, “One who will not go with PM Modi will go to jail. Imposing ED against Jharkhand Chief Minister, Hemant Soren and forcing him to resign is a blow to Federalism. Intimidating opposition leaders by making the provisions of PMLA draconian is part of the BJP’s tool kit.”He further said that the BJP’s work of destabilising the opposition governments one by one as part of a conspiracy was continuing. “Whoever went into the BJP’s washing machine is clean as white; who didn’t go was tainted. If democracy has to be saved from dictatorship, then the BJP will have to be defeated. We will not be afraid, Will continue to fight from Parliament to the streets,” he added.

    Meanwhile, reacting to the same, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the aim of the BJP government was an opposition-free parliament, a democracy-free India, a question-free media, and a harmony-free public.

    “Opposition-free parliament, democracy-free India, question-free media and harmony-free public, this is the aim of the BJP government. Governments are being toppled one by one in all the states,” she said in a post on X, adding, “Opposition leaders are being harassed. Whoever does not join BJP will go to jail. Harassing Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren ji by imposing ED and forcing him to resign is a part of this malicious campaign.”She further said that the BJP has this illusion that it can crush the voice of 140 crore people. The public will answer for every atrocities, she added.Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav also sharply reacted to the ED’s move: “Bihar, Chandigarh and now Jharkhand! BJP has ruined democracy and federalism in a single week. It is not hidden from anyone what the central government is doing by destroying the impartiality of the investigating agencies due to the fear of electoral defeat and by making the agencies cells of the BJP,” he said.

    He further went on to say that the public will break the arrogance of the BJP. RJD is standing with Hemant Soren, he asserted.

    Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren resigned on Wednesday evening after over six hours of questioning by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the alleged land scam case.

    Champai Soren, the state transport minister and a loyalist of Hemant Soren, will step into his role as the Chief Minister.

    (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

  • tejashwi yadav: JDU will soon be non-existent: Tejashwi Yadav

    After Nitish Kumar parted ways with the grand alliance, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav conveyed his best wishes to Kumar and BJP while warning that the game has just begun.

    “I would always respect Nitish Kumar as he is like a guardian, and I have no grudges against him. I wish good luck to BJP which has taken him back into their fold,” Yadav told media persons in Patna. “But I want to say that the game has just begun. It’s not over yet. In last 17 months, we worked on every aspect of developing Bihar and handed record appointment letters for government jobs. The people of Bihar are with us.”

    Yadav told the media that JDU would become non-existent in 2024. Yadav and his party RJD had a fair idea of what was in the offing over the last few days. On Sunday morning, a full-page advertisement was published by the party giving credit to Yadav for several initiatives like caste survey, quota hike, government jobs and others. Yadav told the media that his party would take credit because all the ministers under whom the work was executed were from RJD.He said this would not impact INDIA bloc much and he would reach out to the people of Bihar.

    In the 2020 assembly elections, Yadav had set the narrative of unemployment which resonated well among the voters. As a result, though NDA formed the government with 125 seats and 35% vote share, the alliance of RJD, Congress and CPI(ML) secured around 36% votes and won 110 seats. RJD emerged as the largest party winning 75 seats.

    RJD leaders told ET that they will launch a special drive to reach out to the youth and all sections of society before the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

  • 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.

  • Bihar Political Crisis Live Updates, Bihar Politics News Live, Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu Yadav, JDU, RJD, BJP, Chirag Paswan, Mahagathbandhan, INDIA Alliance

    Bihar Politics News Live: Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is not ready to give up before Nitish Kumar and will try to stop him from becoming chief minister again with the support of BJP and HAMS. 

  • Chirag Paswan terms as ‘hypothetical’ speculations of BJP joining hands with Nitish

    Amid political uncertainty in Bihar, former Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag Paswan on Friday disclosed that he was “in constant touch with the top BJP leadership” but termed as “hypothetical” the question whether Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would be acceptable to him as a new NDA partner. Paswan, who had come to the Bihar capital on Thursday evening, spoke to journalists at the airport, saying he has “cancelled” engagements in the state to hold deliberations over the “crucial next few days” in Delhi.

    “I have been in constant touch with the top BJP leadership. I spoke to them before coming here last evening when I held a meeting of party workers. I am going back to Delhi. I have cancelled my trip to late Karpoori Thakur’s village in Samastipur and to Sitamarhi, which I had been wanting to visit after having paid obeisance at Ayodhya”, he said.

    Paswan, who now heads Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), said his party is a “committed NDA ally in Bihar”. “Therefore, we are keeping a watch on the situation in the state where the next two or three days may be crucial. The BJP, which is the largest constituent of the alliance, is keeping me in the loop. We will be holding more talks in Delhi,” he said.

    The young Jamui MP, who is known to have no love lost for Nitish Kumar and whose rebellion during the 2020 assembly polls has been blamed by the ruling JD(U) for its debacle, was also asked whether he would now be comfortable with the Bihar chief minister as an alliance partner.

    “These are hypothetical questions which I would not like to answer. There can be no end to such speculations”, said Paswan. He also scoffed at reports in a section of the media speculating that if Kumar made a return to the NDA, Paswan could switch sides and seek an alliance with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, the current Deputy CM. “These are baseless reports which erode the credibility of the fourth estate,” fumed Paswan.

    Paswan’s comments came amidst a strong buzz that Kumar, a key figure in the opposition bloc INDIA, was now done with the anti-BJP coalition and exploring possibilities with his old ally which he had dumped less than two years ago.

    However, neither Kumar’s JD(U) nor the BJP has dropped a clear hint in this direction.

    JD(U)’s political advisor and spokesperson K C Tyagi has been asserting that his party saw itself as “the architect of INDIA” and wanted to remain a part of the coalition though developments in West Bengal and Punjab were a cause for concern.

    State BJP president Samrat Choudhary, who met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the party’s principal strategist, in Delhi on Thursday, asserted that the talks centred around Lok Sabha polls.

    “Our top leaders like Amit Shah and national president J P Nadda have said, in public, that the doors of BJP were closed. As a party worker, I abide by the stand. Nitish Kumar, to us, is a politician who changes his allies like clothes”, said Choudhary.

  • 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.

  • ‘This child is everything to us’: Bihar CM Nitish on Tejashwi

    By Express News Service

    PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday created a flutter in political circles by describing his deputy and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as ‘his child’ and is ‘everything to us’.

    Giving a clear indication that he was ready to hand over his CM post to Tejashwi at any time, Nitishwhile putting his hand on Tejashwi’s shoulders said, “He is my child, he is everything to us. We are doing good work together for the state.” He had reached the Chief Secretariat on Saturday morning to offer floral tributes to the first Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Krishna Singh.

    While answering questions from journalists on his statement of friendship with the BJP, he said that his statement was misinterpreted. He had made the statement at the convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari.

    He added that he never spoke about the party (BJP). He clarified that he was referring to the work done in the interest of Bihar through his initiatives but the media did not cover it and instead focused on trivial issues.

    Nitish’s display of affection for Tejashwi is not new. Last year, after breaking ties with the BJP in August and forming the government with the great alliance, Nitish declared Tejasvi as his successor. He has already announced that Tejashwi will lead the grand alliance in the 2025 Bihar assembly election

    Nitish’s announcement has prompted senior JD (U) leader and former union minister Upendra Kushwaha to quit the party and float his own Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal (RLJD).

    State Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh said, “There is no issue with Tejashwi Prasad Yadav holding the CM post. The grand alliance had contested the 2015 state assembly election by projecting him as the CM candidate.”

    Meanwhile, former Union Minister and BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “I will answer and give an effective answer, but now who is whose child and who is whose father? It works in the state of Bihar and let it work. But I would like to say that father (Lalu) expects his son (Tejashwi) to become the Chief Minister soon, now it remains to be seen when his uncle (Nitish) leaves the chair.” Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday created a flutter in political circles by describing his deputy and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as ‘his child’ and is ‘everything to us’.

    Giving a clear indication that he was ready to hand over his CM post to Tejashwi at any time, Nitish
    while putting his hand on Tejashwi’s shoulders said, “He is my child, he is everything to us. We are doing good work together for the state.” He had reached the Chief Secretariat on Saturday morning to offer floral tributes to the first Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Krishna Singh.

    While answering questions from journalists on his statement of friendship with the BJP, he said that his statement was misinterpreted. He had made the statement at the convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    He added that he never spoke about the party (BJP). He clarified that he was referring to the work done in the interest of Bihar through his initiatives but the media did not cover it and instead focused on trivial issues.

    Nitish’s display of affection for Tejashwi is not new. Last year, after breaking ties with the BJP in August and forming the government with the great alliance, Nitish declared Tejasvi as his successor. He has already announced that Tejashwi will lead the grand alliance in the 2025 Bihar assembly election

    Nitish’s announcement has prompted senior JD (U) leader and former union minister Upendra Kushwaha to quit the party and float his own Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal (RLJD).

    State Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh said, “There is no issue with Tejashwi Prasad Yadav holding the CM post. The grand alliance had contested the 2015 state assembly election by projecting him as the CM candidate.”

    Meanwhile, former Union Minister and BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “I will answer and give an effective answer, but now who is whose child and who is whose father? It works in the state of Bihar and let it work. But I would like to say that father (Lalu) expects his son (Tejashwi) to become the Chief Minister soon, now it remains to be seen when his uncle (Nitish) leaves the chair.” Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • 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.

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    “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.

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