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'… what can I say?': Nitish Kumar on raids on Tejashwi Yadav, RJD leaders
Nitish Kumar news: Bihar chief minister reminded reporters of the CBI raids on RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav in 2017 and that the raids had begun after his JD(U) re-aligned with the party.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday took a veiled jab at the Bharatiya Janata Party amid criticism of central investigative agencies searching the homes of leaders of alliance partner Rashtriya Janata Dal - including deputy Tejashwi Yadav - over the land-for-jobs scam.
The Janata Dal (United) leader hinted at the possibility the scrutiny and raids were 'politically motivated' and pointed to similar action in 2017, before which his party and the RJD were ruling allies and after which an acrimonious split ensued and the JD(U) joined hands with the BJP.
"… this happened in 2017 (too). Then we (JD(U) and RJD) went our separate ways… five years went by and, when we came together, raids occurred again," he said after the Central Bureau of Investigation called Tejashwi for questioning.
Nitish refrained from further comment, telling reporters: "What do I have to say, those at the receiving end are giving adequate response." He did, however, point out he 'sought an explanation' at the time - referring to a meeting with Tejashwi, who was deputy CM then too, but refused to resign as Kumar wanted.
Tejashwi was questioned again yesterday - this time by the Enforcement Directorate. The CBI had summoned him on March 4 but he did not appear and was therefore asked to come today, news agency PTI said.
However, sources have told news agency ANI Tejashwi may skip the summons again as his pregnant wife, Rajshree Yadav, is in hospital.
Speaking to reporters, Nitish Kumar also dismissed talk he had been silent on the CBI/ED action against the RJD because he was wary about tarnishing his own image and was even thinking of breaking from Bihar's ruling 'mahagathbandhan', which includes the Congress and Left parties.
In his comments, Nitish Kumar was referring to an earlier iteration of the RJD alliance, which broke after CBI raids on Lalu Yadav over claims he rigged tenders in 2005, when he was the union railway minister.
Tejashwi Yadav was named in that case, as was his mother and former chief minister Rabri Devi. Both have been questioned again this week; Tejashwi by the ED and Rabri Devi by the CBI.
The CBI also questioned Lalu Yadav for nearly five hours - across two sessions - on Tuesday at the Delhi home of his daughter, MP Misa Bharti.
Searches Friday at premises of Tejashwi and his sisters recovered ₹70 lakh in cash and over 1.5 kg in gold, and other valuables.
The interrogation and searches have been criticised with RJD leaders accusing the BJP of being 'afraid of losing and (so) using agencies'.
The RJD has also been backed by JD(U) national president Lalan Singh, who alleged that pregnant women and children were being harassed.
"… CBI could not gather evidence after investigating twice… but after August 9, 2022 (when the JD(U) dropped the BJP and went back to the RJD), suddenly they started getting evidence from divine power…"
The claim is also made by opposition leaders under CBI/ED scrutiny and was voiced over the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia.
READ | Sisodia's message from jail: 'Saheb, you can trouble me, but…'
Tejashwi was one of nine opposition leaders who wrote a letter to prime minister Narendra Modi on Sisodia's arrest and 'misuse' of agencies.
The fact Nitish Kumar did not sign the letter raised some eyebrows and spurred talk that all is not well, again, within the JD(U)-RJD alliance.
READ | 'Take our concerns seriously…': Sharad Pawar's warning to PM
The Bihar leader played down those concerns and said, "I will be there when all (opposition) parties agree to unitedly fight the next Lok Sabha poll (in 2024)."
He also played down talk of him being that united opposition's prime ministerial candidate, insisting he had no such ambitions and expected the Congress to take the lead on the national stage.
The JD(U) and RJD - long-time off/on allies - hooked up again in August after Kumar walked out on the BJP that outperformed his outfit in the 2020 election; the JD(U) won 43 seats to 74 by the BJP' and 75 by the RJD.
With input from ANI, PTI
