Patna: Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) on Friday upped the pressure on RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, asking him to “come clean" on the latest corruption allegations against him and his family members.
“Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family must come clean. They will have to give a point-by-point explanation of the allegations against them as demanded by the opposition (BJP)," JD(U) spokesman Neeraj Kumar said. This is the first time the party has mentioned the BJP while talking about the case.
Lalu, his wife Rabri and son Tejashwi, who is the deputy chief minister of Bihar, have been booked by the CBI for allegedly influencing the awarding of an IRCTC tender in 2005. Lalu, who was the railway minister then, has been accused of accepting three acres of prime land for awarding the contract to Sujata Hotel Private Limited. His family allegedly used a benami property to acquire the land.
Pressure has been mounting on Tejashwi to step down as the deputy CM to protect the 'Mr. Clean' image of CM Nitish Kumar, but the RJD has so far ruled out his resignation. It has also denied a rift in the grand alliance over the issue.
Sources, however, told CNN-News18 that Tejashwi may step down if Lalu says so after his return to Patna.
The party may also have found another way to keep peace within the Mahagathbandhan. Reports said Lalu may tell the RJD ministers in Nitish Kumar’s Cabinet to resign and may extend outside support to the government to counter “BJP’s attempts to break the alliance".
Lalu recently refuted the allegations and vowed to "uproot" the NDA government at the Centre before it completes its five-year term. "Listen, you BJP and RSS people, Lalu will drag you off the seat of power in Delhi, no matter what happens to me. Get it straight... Don't you dare threaten me," he had said.
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