Upon returning to Patna after addressing a campaign rally in Bagaha, Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav the leader of the political party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In his statement, he also criticized Nitish Kumar, saying that he felt deeply unsettled upon seeing a photograph of Kumar paying respects to PM Modi by touching his feet. 'It was quite dismaying. What have the times come to?' queried Yadav, implying that Kumar, whom he equates to a guardian figure, should not have shown such deference given his vast experience as Chief Minister.
Tejashwi further questioned the dignity of these actions, stating that Modi once had raised doubts about Kumar’s DNA, yet now, Kumar is seen showing him reverence. He criticized the Chief Minister for changing sides within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). This public display of respect came as a shock to many, including Tejashwi, who voiced his sentiment, 'We felt embarrassed. It’s a sad state of affairs.'
In his retort, a spokesperson for Janata Dal United (JDU) demanded Tejashwi immediately retract his words, labeling RJD as a party of chaos, filled with anarchists. The Secretary of JDU, Rajiv Ranjan, remarked that Tejashwi lacks the experience of being respectfully treated, hence his inability to show respect. This statement was in response to a viral video clip that had captured Nitish Kumar greeting Modi just before taking his place beside him on the stage after the PM’s public address.
While attacking Modi, the RJD leader alleged that PM ceases to respond whenever confronted with data or issues like nepotism. Tejashwi pinpointed the PM's failure to follow through on promises such as restarting sugar mills in Nawada, citing that despite prior declarations, the mills remain non-operational. Similarly, promises made in Motihari have remained unfulfilled.
Addressing a gathering in Bagaha, Tejashwi turned his focus to Nitish Kumar, referring to him as uncle and lamenting his turncoat behavior. 'Our uncle has switched sides. He used to say he’d rather die than join BJP, but look at him now.' Recounting his achievements during a 17-month tenure in office, he asserted that he provided jobs to half a million youths and had pledged to double that figure if his government was formed. Unfortunately, he claimed, they were forcefully defeated at the polls. He criticized his uncle for questioning the financial viability of his promises but later conceded to the job provision when their coalition government came into power.
