NEW DELHI, June 1: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Monday slammed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar for its order asking the former chief minister Rabri Devi to immediately vacate her official bungalow terming the move an act of “vendetta politics”.
The bungalow at 10 Circular Road, currently occupied by Rabri Devi and her family, has been allotted to Dairy and Fisheries Minister Nand Kishor Ram, a Dalit leader who had been allotted 21 Hardinge Road just a couple of weeks ago.
RJD principal national general secretary Abdul Bari Siddiqui and other senior RJD leaders accused the government of “targeting the opposition” for criticising its policies. “The beauty of democracy lies in exposing the shortcomings of the government. If the government commits mistakes, it is the opposition’s responsibility to hold it accountable. However, the ruling dispensation in Bihar believes that the opposition should always agree with the government, and if it does not, it is targeted in many ways,” Mr Siddiqui told reporters.
He alleged that Bihar was a “backward State reeling under poverty and indebtedness,” but the government, instead of addressing these issues, was focused on targeting the Opposition. Mr Siddiqui also questioned the government’s decision to merge the Chief Minister’s official residence at 1 Anne Marg with 5 Deshratna Marg, which had been designated for the deputy Chief Minister. “Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary should explain why the two bungalows were merged to form a combined CM residence and renamed as Lok Sevak Awas while Deputy CMs are living elsewhere,” he said.
RJD State President Mangani Lal Mandal said buildings should be allotted and occupied according to established parameters, which, according to him, is not the case in the State. “The Patna High Court in the late 1990s stated that the government continuously violates established guidelines. Bihar deputy CM Bijendra Prasad Yadav must be aware of it because he himself was a petitioner in that case,” Mr Mandal claimed.
He alleged that the government was working with the sole aim of disrespecting Lalu Prasad and his family. Mr Mandal said the party may consider moving court against the order directing the vacation of 10 Circular Road. Senior RJD Dalit leader Shiv Chandra Ram alleged that the BJP was using Nand Kishor Ram as a pawn to further its agenda.
“Ram was allotted 21 Hardinge Road on May 11. Why was there a need to allot him another bungalow, 10 Circular Road, merely a couple of weeks later on May 27? Was there something wrong with the building allotted earlier?” he asked. He said the government was trying to mislead people, particularly Dalits, by diverting their attention from real issues facing them.
Mr Siddiqui said a number of NDA leaders, including BJP President Nitin Nabin and Janata Dal (United) – JD(U) Working President Sanjay Jha, “continue to live in their bungalows despite quitting their position in the State government without any objection.” He accused the government of being biased in its approach.
“If former CMs Nitish Kumar and Jitan Ram Manjhi continue to live in government-allotted buildings, why are Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi asked to vacate their residence?” he asked. He claimed that the bungalow of the Chief Minister has now “become bigger than even the Prime Minister’s house.” “Samrat Choudhary has extended his palatial bungalow on some of the most expensive land in Bihar to more than 15 acres. Should there not be a sense of propriety in politics and democracy?” he asked.
(Manas Dasgupta)