Video: Nitish Kumar's veiled dig at Lalu Yadav for having 'too many children'

While campaigning for an NDA candidate in Banmankhi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took a jibe at RJD chief Lalu Yadav and said he "produced so many children".

In Short

• Nitish Kumar slams Lalu Yadav for bringing family in politics
• Says Yadav has 'too many children'
• Brings up Rabri Devi becoming Bihar Chief Minister after Yadav jailed in 1997

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has triggered a controversy for taking a jibe at RJD chief and former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav for having "too many children". The Chief Minister slammed Lalu Yadav for involving his children in politics, stating that it hinders productivity.

Speaking at an election rally in Banmankhi, Nitish Kumar on Saturday took a dig at Lalu Yadav and said, "He appointed his wife when he was removed. Now, it is his children these days. He has produced so many offspring. Does anyone need to produce that many offspring? But he did. Now he has involved their sons, daughters, and everyone".

Nitish Kumar's jibe was an apparent jibe at Lalu Yadav's wife, Rabri Devi, taking up the role of Bihar Chief Minister in 1997 after her husband faced corruption charges.

Lalu Yadav's son Tejashwi Yadav was Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar when Nitish Kumar left the NDA in 2022 and formed the government. He lost his post after Nitish Kumar snapped ties with the RJD and went back to the NDA earlier this year.

Further, Lalu Yadav's two daughters, Rohini Acharya and Misa Bharti, have been fielded by the RJD as Lok Sabha candidates from the Saran and Pataliputra seats respectively.

Nitish Kumar accused Lalu Yadav's children of merely working to "trigger headlines with their sensational remarks".

Misa Bharti reacted to Nitish Kumar's statement and said the voters of Bihar will evaluate his remark. She appeared perplexed when asked about the remark and said, "I’m not sure what to say about my Chachaji. He is spearheading the onslaught against us after Prime Minister Narendra Modi stopped commenting".

RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmad also slammed Nitish Kumar for his choice of words against the Yadav family and said the Chief Minister's remark was 'unbecoming'. He added that the JD(U) chief's statement shows the NDA's "frustration" after the first phase of polling for the Lok Sabha polls concluded.

Congress leader Gyan Ranjan also commented on Nitish Kumar's remark and said it showed that the Chief Minister has "nothing to speak about his vision for the state's future".

JD(U) leader Parimal Kumar, however, defended Nitish Kumar and said the terms nepotism and corruption has become synonymous with the RJD. He added that installing family members on political posts is against democratic values.

BJP MP from Saran, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, also alleged that Lalu Yadav is fielding his children because there is a dearth of RJD candidates.

Published By:
chingkheinganbi mayengbam
Published On:
Apr 20, 2024