On October 23, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav made a shocking comment criticising former Union Minister Giriraj Singh’s Hindu Swabhiman Yatra and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Pradeep Kumar Singh for their alleged attempts to incite communal tensions in Bihar.
Speaking to the media, Yadav stated, “The way Giriraj Singh is organising this Yatra, and the absurd statement made by BJP’s Araria MP, there is a clear attempt to create a rift and incite riots between communities.”
Tejashwi Yadav shared a video message on the platform X (formerly Twitter), where he further condemned the BJP’s alleged attempts to disrupt communal harmony in Bihar. In his post, translated from Hindi, Yadav wrote, “Today, a BJP MP made an inflammatory statement to disrupt the atmosphere in Bihar, and on the very same day, Nitish Kumar Ji provided additional security to that MP. In this country’s soil lies the fragrance of everyone, and everyone has contributed to its freedom. I assure every individual that as long as I breathe, I will stand firm against anyone who tries to throw Bihar into the fire of communalism, and we will give a strong blow to anyone who looks at Muslims with ill intent.”
आज भाजपा के एक सांसद ने बिहार में माहौल बिगाड़ने के लिए भड़काऊ बयान दिया और आज ही उस सांसद को नीतीश कुमार जी ने अतिरिक्त सुरक्षा मुहैया करा दी।
इस देश की मिट्टी में सबकी महक और आज़ादी में सबका योगदान है। मैं हरेक व्यक्ति को भरोसा दिलाता हूँ कि जब तक मेरी साँस है मैं बिहार को… pic.twitter.com/mbz5IeAY9x
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) October 22, 2024
In a seven-minute Facebook Live video, Yadav emphasised that the Rashtriya Janata Dal has always fought against communal and feudal forces, and he reaffirmed his commitment to continuing this fight. “If any communal violence occurs in Bihar, Nitish Kumar will be solely responsible,” Yadav warned.
“RJD has always been a party of social justice and secularism. We have always sacrificed when needed. We have always fought against communal and feudal forces and will keep doing so,” he added.
However, Yadav’s statements also reflect the broader political landscape in Bihar, where RJD has faced accusations of minority appeasement, particularly toward Muslim voters. Critics argue that this tactic is an attempt to rally support from the Muslim community, especially after RJD’s dismal performance in the last Lok Sabha elections, where the party secured only five seats. The party has since intensified efforts to court different communities, fearing further erosion of its political base, particularly in the face of growing competition from political figures like election strategist Prashant Kishor.
This is not the first time that the RJD has been accused of minority appeasement. Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi’s father and former Chief Minister of Bihar, sparked controversy by advocating for “complete” reservations for Muslims. His remarks drew sharp criticism from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, which accused the RJD of spreading falsehoods about the BJP’s stance on the Constitution and reservations.
The growing tension between the RJD and BJP leaders has added to an already charged political environment in Bihar. While Tejashwi Yadav continues to position himself as a defender of secularism and social justice, his critics accuse him of relying on divisive rhetoric aimed at consolidating minority votes. The BJP, on the other hand, has accused the RJD of pandering to minority communities at the expense of national unity.
