Rattled by IT raids, Lalu raises alliance heat with tweet

Yadav, who stayed confined to his residence in Patna throughout the day and met several RJD leaders and his lawyers, sent six tweets attacking BJP and the “BJP-backed media”.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav | PTI
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav | PTI

PATNA: Even as the Income Tax department on Tuesday raided 22 locations in Delhi-NCR on firms and people linked to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in connection to benami land deals, Bihar’s ruling alliance witnessed uneasy moments due a tweet by him.

Yadav, who stayed confined to his residence in Patna throughout the day and met several RJD leaders and his lawyers, sent six tweets attacking BJP and the “BJP-backed media” and saying he is not afraid of such actions by the “fascist forces”. But one of his tweets was interpreted by many as indicative of his belief that his ally JD(U) of CM Nitish Kumar may go with the BJP.

“Congratulations to BJP on its new alliance partners. Lalu Prasad is not one who would bend and fear. I will keep fighting against fascist forces till my last breath,” wrote Yadav.

This tweet raised political temperatures in Patna as many RJD leaders privately blamed the IT raids on statements Nitish had made a day before. Speaking on the BJP’s frequent allegations that the Yadav family had acquired huge benami property, Nitish had on Monday asked BJP to approach the appropriate authorities for action instead of making media allegations.

Spokespersons from RJD and JD(U) claimed the alliance government was intact and that it would complete its full term, ending in 2020.

RJD national spokesperson Manoj Jha said by “new alliance partners” Yadav meant Central agencies like Income Tax department, CBI and ED that the “Modi government is using to crush Opposition unity in the country”. JD(U)’s Sanjay Singh denied that Yadav hinted at a JD(U)-BJP tie-up, but relations between the allies momentarily sank further.

RJD chief issues clarification

With Bihar’s political circles suddenly abuzz with various theories, Lalu Prasad Yadav himself later tweeted to clarify: “Do not drool so much. The alliance is unbreakable. We are planning to ally with like-minded parties. I am not afraid of BJP government’s machinery and its government-backed associates.”

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