NEW DELHI: Union minister for State Home Affairs Nityanand Rai criticized Opposition Leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday for comparing former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav to Karpoori Thakur, stating that Lalu Yadav should instead be recognized for protecting kidnappers and hindering Bihar’s development. The controversy began when RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav made remarks about Karpoori Thakur in Bihar’s Sitamarhi. “Those who used to abuse Karpoori Thakur when he implemented reservation, look at his power today, those who used to abuse him are now giving him Bharat Ratna, this is the real power of socialism. Those who are abusing Lalu Yadav today, in future, the same people will give Bharat Ratna to him as well,” said Tejashwi Yadav. Responding to these comments, Rai expressed his disapproval of the comparison between Lalu Yadav and Karpoori Thakur. “Comparison of Lalu Yadav with Karpoori Thakur is very unfortunate. Karpoori Thakur worked to provide justice to Dalits, backward and downtrodden people, and today Prime Minister Narendra Modi is doing the same work. PM Modi has done the work of giving respect to the poor, the backward and the deprived section in the entire country,” Rai stated. Rai further criticized Lalu Yadav’s leadership, suggesting he deserved recognition for negative contributions. “He should be given award for ruining development, as one who defamed Bihar, as one who established jungle raj in Bihar,” Rai remarked. The Minister questioned Tejashwi Yadav about his father’s alliance with Congress, highlighting their historical opposition to backward class reservation. Rai, a former Bihar BJP President, emphasized that Jan Sangh had supported Karpoori Thakur’s government, contrasting this with Lalu Yadav’s actions during his tenure with Congress. He criticized Lalu Yadav’s governance period, citing incidents of kidnapping and lawlessness. “Why should Lalu Yadav ji be given Bharat Ratna? Because when there was kidnapping during his rule in Bihar, the deal with kidnappers was done in the CM’s residence with the knowledge of Lalu Prasad. Were the backward people, the Dalits, and the poor not oppressed during Lalu’s rule? Weren’t they robbed? Hooliganism was prevalent openly. People used to occupy police stations and used to create hue and cry. The kidnappers used to get the protection of the Ministers in his rule,” Rai stated. Rai concluded by warning that Tejashwi Yadav was following his father’s path, predicting that Bihar’s people would reject his leadership. “Tejashwi Yadav is also following the same path these days that his father followed so the people of Bihar will never accept Tejashwi Yadav. He is trying to gain power by destroying social structure and his plan will never succeed,” he said.
