Row Over Ambedkar Sparks Political Firestorm In Bihar, Tejashwi Defends Lalu Yadav Against BJP Allegations
Bihar's political scene is heated. Deputy CM Choudhary (BJP) accused Lalu Prasad (RJD) of disrespecting Ambedkar by placing his portrait at his feet.
After Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary charged RJD president Lalu Prasad with having insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar by having a portrait of the Dalit icon placed at his feet, Tejashwi Yadav said that the BJP has nothing to do with Baba Saheb, the Constitution and reservation.
Speaking to media in Patna, the former Deputy CM of Bihar said that Lalu Yadav has installed many statues of Baba Saheb Ambedkar in Bihar. We are the people who believe in Ambedkar's ideology, he said and added that Lalu Yadav works for 10 hours at the age of 78 and meets people.
"These (BJP) people have nothing to do with Baba Saheb, the Constitution and reservation. Lalu Yadav has installed many statues of Baba Saheb Ambedkar in Bihar. We are people who believe in Ambedkar's ideology. Lalu Yadav works for 10 hours at the age of 78 and meets people….,” Yadav said as quoted by news agency PTI.
Earlier, Samrat Choudhary, a former state president of the BJP, also played a video clip of the incident that took place when the ex-CM was celebrating his 78th birthday earlier this week.
In the video, the ailing leader can be seen seated on a couch with his feet placed on a sofa nearby. A supporter enters the room carrying the portrait and places it close to Prasad's feet before greeting the RJD chief.
“This is testimony to the fact that Lalu Prasad holds Dalits in contempt and has no respect for the greatest leader from the depressed classes. He can have even pictures of gods placed at his feet,” alleged Choudhary, who, incidentally, had begun his political career with the RJD more than two decades ago.
The Deputy CM also claimed that the RJD supremo's "arrogance" had caused old associates like Nitish Kumar and George Fernandes to part ways and "alienated voters belonging to weaker sections".
The incident also evoked outrage from the Dalit leaders in the BJP, like cabinet minister Janak Ram and the state unit vice president Anamika Paswan, both of whom came out with strongly worded statements.
"The 14 crore people of Bihar are feeling ashamed and the entire family of RJD supremo should tender an apology. The leader cut the cake with a sword which indicates that his party wants to bring back the use of muscle power in public affairs to which the NDA had assiduously put an end", said Janak Ram.
Anamika Paswan said, "Lalu Prasad made no attempt to even hold the portrait in his hands when it was placed at his feet. Earlier, an instance of Babasaheb's portrait being found in a garbage dump at the RJD office had also come to the fore. This calls the bluff of the RJD supremo who claims to be a champion of Dalits".
(With inputs from PTI.)
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