In a significant development, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav, accompanied by his daughter Misha Bharti, appeared at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Patna for questioning today. This comes a day after the power shift in Bihar, where former ally Nitish Kumar rejoined the NDA fold, abandoning the RJD and Congress alliance.
The case under investigation pertains to alleged irregularities during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as the Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009. It is claimed that the veteran politician and other accused individuals facilitated the transfer of lands owned by jobseekers to Yadav family members at significantly low prices.
Among the accused are Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife, former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, and daughter Misa. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is handling the bribery allegations, while the ED is focusing on tracing the money laundering aspect of the case.
RJD Accuses BJP of Political Targeting
The RJD, in response to the developments, has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using government agencies for political motives. RJD MP Manoj Jha asserted that the ED summon is not just an investigative procedure but an attempt by the BJP to target political rivals. He claimed that this alleged targeting would persist until 2024 and urged caution in labeling it as an ED summon.
Misha Bharti’s Strong Response
Misha Bharti, also implicated in the corruption case, voiced her family’s stance at the ED office. She suggested that those not aligning with the BJP and unwilling to switch sides receive such “greeting cards” in the form of summonses. She maintained that her family has consistently cooperated with investigative agencies, responding to all queries posed by them.
Context of Nitish Kumar’s Political Shift
The timing of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s questioning is notable as it follows Nitish Kumar’s surprising return to the NDA fold, severing ties with the RJD and Congress. Nitish Kumar, a nine-time Chief Minister, has a history of political flip-flops, with this being his fifth reversal in the past decade. In 2022, he had exited the NDA only to form a new government in alliance with the RJD and Congress.
As political dynamics continue to evolve in Bihar, the investigations into the land-for-jobs case add another layer of complexity to the unfolding narrative.
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