Tejashwi Yadav calls media ‘anti-national’

Patna: Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav on Friday insulted the media in Patna when asked to react to the CBI raids. Calling a television reporter “anti-national” he said, “You all have come here to create a scene”.

RJD chief Lalu Yadav, who was present, intervened and rebuked his son, asking him to leave the press briefing. The ruckus was created after Mr Yadav, who was in Ranchi to appear in the court, arrived in Patna late in the evening.

According to sources, Lalu’s supporters, who followed him from the airport to his residence, had also threatened a few journalists. The CBI registered a case against Lalu Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi and son Tejaswi Yadav in connection with an alleged scam that had occurred during Lalu Yadav’s tenure as the railway minister in 2006. Insiders said the CBI had also questioned Ms Devi and son Tejaswi in Patna.

The raids and the FIR against the family have not only put the RJD in a tight spot, but questions were also raised on the silence of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. However, JD(U) sources said that Nitish Kumar kept a close watch on the development and also sought a report from the officials on the issue.

Sources said that the chief minister had also instructed his party leaders, especially spokespersons, to refrain from commenting on the matter. The BJP had earlier stepped up pressure on chief minister Nitish Kumar to break his silence on the issue and also asked him to remove his deputy Tejaswi Yadav from the Cabinet in the wake of the development.

“Nitish Kumar must immediately sack deputy chief minister Tejaswi Yadav after the FIR was registered against him and his family,” senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said. The RJD chief however brushed aside the allegation and called the raids against the family “a political conspiracy by the BJP”. 

Lalu Yadav said, “I have done nothing wrong and I am ready to face punishment if anything is found against me. This was done only to stop me but I will not rest till the Modi government is removed.” 

Lalu Yadav, while addressing party workers at his residence, said that efforts were being made to stop the “BJP hatao desh bachao” rally scheduled on August 27, in which several Opposition leaders are likely to participate.

“It was just not me, my family and kids were also targeted. The BJP wants to weaken all Opposition leaders who are coming to my rally. I want you to take a pledge that you will help me in exposing the failures of BJP,” he said.