On Monday, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav urged the nation to honor his father and party head Lalu Prasad with the Bharat Ratna for championing the voices of the oppressed. At a commemorative event for socialist leader Karpoori Thakur in Saharsa district's Sonvarsha, Tejashwi declared, 'When Bihar's then-Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur implemented reservations for the backward classes, the BJP and its allies protested. Yet now, they bestow the Bharat Ratna on him. This is the power of socialism.'
Tejashwi added, 'Today, some criticize Laluji to please Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the day will come when these very critics will demand Laluji receive the Bharat Ratna, for empowering those who were once forbidden from drawing water from wells or seating upon charpoys.'
Tejashwi articulated his father's deep connection with Karpoori Thakur, saying, 'When Thakurji passed away, it was in Laluji's embrace. He personally rushed him to the hospital in his own jeep.'
'Uncle Joined Hands with BJP'
Tejashwi took aim at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of aligning with the BJP, a party allegedly undermining reservation efforts from behind the scenes in the Patna High Court. With numerous government positions unfilled, he lamented that Dalits and backward classes aren't receiving their due rights. He further emphasized that upcoming assembly election tickets will not be influenced simply by leaders’ recommendations. 'I'll ensure rightful candidates, aligned with our ideology, get their opportunity,' he asserted.
Meanwhile, the JDU ridiculed Tejashwi Yadav's demand. 'If awards existed for prison stints and corruption, Laluji would certainly be a top contender,' remarked JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar sarcastically.
Notably, Lalu Prasad has been convicted in several fodder scam cases and is embroiled in other scandals, like 'land for jobs' and 'land for hotels' in the railways.
