Not to be frightened by the coercive political machinations of Narendra Modi, the old war horse having fought many legal and political battles through his long six-decade political career, RJD chief Lalu Yadav has accepted Modi’s challenges and also cautioned him to get ready for facing the consequences.
Infamous for using the ED and CBI against his political detractors in order to force them to accede to his political hegemony and to prostrate before him, Modi has to face for the first time in his political career, as the chief minister of Gujarat and also as the prime minister, this nature of open challenge from any of his political enemies.
Just on the next day of the CBI filing a false and fabricated charge-sheet against his son, the deputy chief minister, Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu flared up at the meeting of RJD rank and file convened to celebrate the 27th foundation day celebrations of the RJD in Patna. The 76-year-old, while addressing party workers and supporters, did not mince words in cautioning Modi. He vowed to uproot Modi in 2024 Lok Sabha elections and asserted that those who commit atrocities do not last long.
Lalu said: “Ukhaad kar phenk denge Narendra Modi, samajh lo. Zyada anyay aur zulm nahin karna. Zulm karnewala zyada thehra nahi hai. (Will uproot and throw away Narendra Modi, understand this. Do not indulge in injustice and atrocities. Those who commit atrocities do not stay for long)”.
Undoubtedly, this is a major rebuff for Modi and he must not have realized that he would be snubbed by a person who till recently was in jail after conviction in the fodder scam. He might have nursed the view that Lalu would not put a challenge to his manoeuvres. But he has been proved absolutely wrong.
A closer look at the developments would make it explicit that both the leaders have their compulsions. If a dark future looms over Modi’s head, Lalu is also facing the threat of complete oblivion if he refuses to stand up to the designs of Modi. This is the reason that while Modi planned to implicate Lalu and Tejashvi in the land-for-job scam, Lalu too struck back.
Lalu launching a direct frontal attack has wider implication. While it aimed at putting Modi on check and send the message to desist from foul political maneuverings, it also aimed to boost the morale of the RJD rank and file and to motivate to brave the future onslaught from Modi. It is generally perceived in the political circuits that Modi will not like to retrace his step of sending Lalu and Tejashvi to jail in the latest scam. This would have an antagonistic impact on the party cadres and sympathisers. This would also jeopardise Tejashwi’s move to rope in upper caste people, Bhumihars and Rajputs.
A veteran of many political battles, Lalu drew a comparison between the latest action of Modi with that of the atrocities of upper-class landlords in past. He pointed out that a similar situation prevailed in Bihar when the poor were threatened by the powerful people with police and court cases to silence their voices. In a tacit move, he attributed to Modi’s designs the character that defined Bihar’s inglorious past, with systemic class repression and torture of the downtrodden.
Lalu asserted: “Unity, integrity and harmony are being trampled and crushed in the country. The followers of Ram and Rahim are being pushed towards hatred. The Constitution and reservation given to us by Babasaheb Ambedkar are being destroyed by the fascist and communal forces.”
While refusing to be cowed down by the CBI’s second chargesheet in which his younger son Tejashwi’s name has been included as an accused along with others, Lalu also sent a loud and clear message to the rural people, especially those from the IBCs, EBCs and Dalits, that a feudal Hindutva party is out to suppress their voices. Notwithstanding, Modi’s move to send Lalu and Tejashvi to jail, this message will do miracle and conjure the oppressed and proletariat to rally behind the opposition.
Lalu, who has been accused of corruption during his tenure as railway minister, said, “one case after another” (Mukadama par mukadama) was being filed against him and his close family members. Lalu, famous for his rustic approach, was once again at his best, preferring to convey his words and feelings to the people in his mother tongue, Bhojpuri. As a morale booster to the people, he in Bhojpuri sought to know from Modi; “What will happen to you (Modi) when your days are over? At least we have earned the goodwill and are still showered with petals and garlands.”
An insight into Lalu’s attack would also make it clear that this was not only an attack on Modi and the BJP-led government at the Centre, it was also a word caution for Nitish, who has of late come under political scanner for his indecisiveness and unwillingness to devote to call of governance. The police records reveal that crimes have been on rise, but the police has preferred to turn a passive spectator. The incidents of secretaries not carrying out the orders of their political masters have also soared up.
Lalu has targeted Modi over his failure to address communalism, inflation and the predicament of the poor. He said: “This Narendra Modi has no acumen to address poverty and the issues related to the poor. He is completely and continuously breaking the country. MLAs are being bought on a large scale. They are bought to form governments”.
In this political backdrop, his asking the people to keep marching ahead instead of bowing down is quite significant. It is in fact an open call to protest. He used the celebration to send the message across that the opposition must unite at any cost. He hailed the unity efforts of Nitish Kumar and vowed to “root out” the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. “Karnataka was a precursor (jhanki)”, said Lalu. He claimed: “Mahagathbandhan in Bihar has been a shining example of opposition unity. We must remain steadfast in our fight against communalism and attempts to do away with the reservation system which is a legacy of Ambedkar.”
Meanwhile, Tejashvi, challenging the summons issued by the CBI to appear for questioning in the alleged land-for-jobs scam, has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court. A bench led by Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma will hear his petition. The petition alleged that though he was a resident of Patna, he was being asked to appear for questioning in Delhi, which is in violation of Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). As per the provision, he said, a notice can only be issued to a person who is situated within the local jurisdiction of a police station or the adjoining police station. (IPA Service)