Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) national president and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav reached the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) office in Patna on Monday in connection with the alleged land-for-jobs scam. Lalu arrived along with his daughter Misa Bharti, who is a co-accused in the case.
Upon the arrival of the RJD president, a considerable number of RJD workers gathered outside the central agency’s office to protest against the central government. An RJD supporter accused the central government of targeting their leader to hinder the formulation of strategies for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
“These people do not have any other weapon. The government is harassing these people for the upcoming elections of 2024 so that they are not able to make strategies,” she said, as ANI reported.
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The RJD has accused the BJP of politically targeting its rivals through government agencies. RJD MP Manoj Jha stated, “This is not an ED summon, but a BJP summon… This will go on till 2024, till then please do not call it ED summons… Why should we be scared?”
The BJP, which returned to power in Bihar after Nitish Kumar switched sides to the NDA on Sunday, claimed that corruption was deeply rooted in the RJD. Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Chowdhary said, “The people of the country know that these (Lalu Yadav) are corrupt people. Corruption is a jewel for them… I want to urge Tejashwi Yadav to tell the youth of Bihar the system of how to become millionaires within one and a half years.”
On Sunday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar resigned from his position, marking the conclusion of the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) government. Later that day, he was sworn in for the ninth time as Bihar Chief Minister and formed a new government in collaboration with the BJP.
The alleged land-for-jobs scam happened during Lalu Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009. Besides the RJD national president, the chargesheet also implicates the then Railway General Manager.
In exchange for facilitating their appointments in the Railways, Lalu Prasad Yadav purportedly orchestrated the transfer of lands owned by candidates and their family members. These lands were registered in the names of his wife Rabri Devi and daughter Misa Bharti at sale prices significantly lower than the prevailing circle rates and market rates.
The CBI filed the chargesheet in October of the previous year, naming former Bihar chief ministers Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, their daughter Misa Bharti, and 13 others in the land-for-jobs scandal.
According to the CBI, individuals were initially recruited as substitutes in Group D posts in the Railways and were later regularised when their families engaged in a land deal. The CBI is actively investigating allegations of land being taken as a bribe in exchange for jobs within the Railways.