The recent CBI raids at the premises of former Railway Minister and RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members is creating a lot of turmoil in the minds of people regarding the mahagathbandhan. Since after the raids, all the opposition parties are extending their support to Lalu, but Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has maintained his silence over this issue.
Senior RJD leader Shivanand Tiwari in his interview to ET, that its political vendetta that BJP is playing against all those opposing the party. He said that BJP is deliberately targeting Lalu Yadav to suppress his moves to pull down BJP. Recently after the raids, BJP has demanded the resignation of Bihar’s Deputy CM and Lalu’s son Tejashwi Yadav, on the grounds of CBI case charged against him also. Regarding this Tiwari said that there is no reason for Tejashwi to resign, just because BJP has issued some false statement.
Talking about Nitish Kumar not openly backing RJD supremo, he ensured that the coalition of JD(U)-RJD-Congress will survive and there is no chance of a break up in this alliance. Moreover, Nitish is not conducting these raids and the alliance was made after Lalu was convicted for the Fodder Scam. Nitish knew everything, why would he break the alliance now. He also told that even if he breaks the alliance and joins BJP will he get the same respect. Nitish will not break the coalition. He further added that JD(U) is soon going to have an all-party meeting and Nitish will give his statement after that about the raids. Tiwari said that Nitish knows what is happening in the state. Targeting BJP he added that Ram Vilas Paswan, who is speaking against Lalu is no saint himself and the corruption will not come to an end just by going after Lalu.
Tiwari also spoke about the mega rally, Lalu is planning to organise on 28 Aug against BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that JD(U) never said that it won’t attend the rally, it only said that if a formal invitation was given to the party, it will definitely attend the rally.
Commenting on CBI raids on Lalu, Tiwari said that why only opposition parties are being targetted, it a political vendetta. He questioned that why only Bihar is being seen as a corrupt state and why no actions are taken against former Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel’s daughter Anar Patel’s land scam. Further adding he said that only those people are being targetted who are opposing BJP, the party wants to finish all its rivals and to do this they using CBI and IT departments.
Tiwari also questioned that why BJP is asking only for a resignation from Tejashwi and why not from Uma Bharti who is also charged with CBI case against her.
During the interview when asked about the petition Tiwari himself had filed against Lalu in 2008 and now he is supporting Lalu, he answered that he is supporting Lalu only because he does not want BJP to come to power in Bihar. He said that if RJD is washed out of Bihar and if JD(U) breaks its alliance, BJP will sure come to power and he does not want that.