Patna: RJD working president Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Sunday alleged that the BJP has been using CM Nitish Kumar to further its own agenda.He was speaking at a state-level birth anniversary function of Sant Ravidas at Miller School ground under the aegis of Ravidas Chetna Manch, headed by a former MLA.
Criticising the present regime, Tejashwi said, “They have taken your votes and have not only forgotten you all, but also uprooting the poor, oppressed, deprived, backward and extremely backward caste (EBC) groups, as well as dalits and the poor roadside vendors of vegetabes, from their houses in the name of anti-encroachment drive,” he said.He alleged that the state’s crime graph was rising and that incidents of violence against women and girls had increased, claiming that criminals felt protected. “The prohibition has completely failed and the liquor mafia elements enjoy the protection,” Tejashwi said, adding that the poor were being put behind the bars.Referring to the tenure of the Grand Alliance (GA) govt from Aug 2022 to Jan 2024, headed by Nitish Kumar when he himself served as deputy chief minister, Tejashwi said following the caste-based headcount and general economic survey, the cabinet had cleared a proposal granting 65% job reservation to the concerned social groups and forwarded it to the Centre for inclusion in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. “It has been embroiled in legal matters and put on the backburner,” he said, calling the BJP the party that had “devoured” it.He appealed to dalits and other deprived sections to remain united and collectively fight for their rights, and to safeguard the Constitution framed by Bhimrao Ambedkar, which, he alleged, is being “weakened.” He also urged them to imbibe the ideas of social reformers and socialist thinkers ranging from Ram Manohar Lohia and Karpoori Thakur to RJD president Lalu Prasad.Reacting to Tejashwi’s claims, state JD(U) MLC and party’s chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said, “He has spoken about prohibition and the liquor mafia, but his party received Rs 46 crore from liquor companies under the electoral bonds scheme. His attack on crime is baseless, because no NDA constituent, unlike the RJD, influences action against any criminal.”
