NDA government must accord special status to Bihar: Tejashwi Yadav

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday said the new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre should accord special status to Bihar and fulfil the Opposition’s demand for a nationwide caste census.

“As many as 30 [NDA] MPs from Bihar have gone there [Lok Sabha]. Previously [in 2019 Lok Sabha election], 39 [NDA] MPs had gone but nothing has been achieved yet. This time we are fully hopeful and expect that Bihar, having played a decisive role in the formation of the government, should at least be accorded special status,” Mr. Yadav said. He also added that reservation should be raised to 75%.

Mr. Yadav had on Sunday said that the new Union Ministers from Bihar had been given a raw deal.

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Reacting to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks on Manipur, Mr. Yadav said the statement had come too late.

“Prime Minister [Narendra Modi] has always been silent, not just on Manipur but also on farmers, gold medallist wrestlers who were molested. He [Mohan Bhagwat] has said but it’s late,” Mr. Yadav said.

Mr. Bhagwat on Sunday said Manipur had been waiting for peace for a year. “There was peace in Manipur 10 years ago. It felt like gun culture is finished there but the State has suddenly seen violence. The situation in Manipur will have to be considered with priority. There is need to get over election rhetoric and focus on problems facing the country,” he said at an RSS event in Nagpur.

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On the final chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the land-for job scam in which he is an accused, Mr. Yadav, referring obliquely to the strong Opposition presence in Parliament, said, “Let the government keep in mind that times have changed and if the [investigative] agencies do not mend their ways, the government will be pulled down.”

In the Lok Sabha election, the RJD won just four of the 40 seats in the State. Reacting to questions on the RJD’s performance, Mr. Yadav said, “Look at our performance in the last Lok Sabha election [in 2019, the RJD had drawn a blank], but we emerged as the single-largest party in the Assembly election next year. Our tally in Lok Sabha election this time has improved four times, and the same will get reflected in the Assembly election.”

The Assembly election in the State is due to be held in 2025.