Drama unfolds outside Rabri Devi's official residence, RJD leaders stand guard; claim ex-CM "returned" her security

Dramatic scenes unfolded at former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi’s residence on Saturday after several Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders held a vigil, claiming that their leader had “returned” her security cover to protest the “shabby” treatment by the NDA government.

The development comes close on the heels of the allotment of 10 Circular Road, a government bungalow that Rabri Devi has occupied for two decades, in favor of BJP leader and minister Nanda Kishor Ram.

Read also | Why former CM Rabri Devi was asked to vacate 10 Circular Road bungalow in Patna

Rabri Devi refused to move into 39, Hardinge Road, the bungalow allotted to her as Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Council. Earlier this week, she suffered another setback from the government after her entire family’s security cover was cut.

RJD leaders stand guard, slam NDA

RJD spokesperson and former MLA Shakti Singh Yadav, who was one of the first party leaders to sit outside the gate, said, “It’s all just a ploy by the BJP-led government to humiliate our leaders Lalu ji, Rabri ji and Tejashwi ji. They have all returned their security cover. But the ruling dispensation would not care about our leaders.”

Yadav added, “From now on, RJD workers will take it upon themselves to ensure that our leaders are not in danger. I am here as the man responsible for their security. Many of my colleagues will join me.”

RJD leader Abha Lata, who appeared at 10 Circular Road later that day, had a video chat with Rabri Devi and showed her the crowd standing at the gate. Speaking to reporters, Lata said, “We condemn the actions of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who cut his teeth under Rabri Devi but now wants to humiliate her. I told madam not to worry. Her husband and son may be gone. But she is not alone.”

Lalu Prasad Yadav son of Tejashwi out of Patna

Notably, Rabri Devi’s husband, Lalu Prasad, the RJD president whom she succeeded as Bihar CM in 1997, is away in Singapore for medical treatment. Their younger son Tejashwi Yadav, deputy chief of the RJD, was reportedly in Delhi.

According to PTI in Patna, the RJD supremo shares 10 Circular Road with his wife, though many party leaders, including Yadav, his heir apparent, insist that Prasad should get a separate house as a former CM.

Read also | Tejashwi Yadav appointed the working president of RJD at the national executive meeting

Yadav, who served as a former deputy CM and is currently the leader of opposition in the state assembly, resides at 1, Polo Road, a few hundred meters away, and many RJD leaders claimed that he too had “returned” his security cover.

Tej Pratap Yadav on the security cover controversy

Tejashwi Yadav’s elder brother, Tej Pratap Yadav, who was expelled from the party by his father more than a year ago, had a different take on the controversy over his family’s security cover.

Earlier today, Tej Pratap turned up at his mother’s house and claimed to have learned that she was unwell. Speaking to reporters, he said, “As far as I know, none of my family members have returned their security. It is the security personnel who are toying with the claim that their command has been interrupted.”

The report suggests that Tej Pratap Yadav’s name was also included in the list of family members whose security cover was reduced two days ago.

Read also | After RJD’s expulsion, Tej Pratap ‘needs trust’ from Lalu’s ‘dear mummy-daddy’, Rabri

NDA slams RJD’s “coercive politics”.

Criticizing the RJD’s “coercive policy”, the NDA said all the recent actions involving the proverbial first family of the RJD were taken “as per the rules”.

Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, “Lalu Prasad’s family thrives on pressure. Their tantrums show a lack of appreciation for the fact that this is a democracy and not a monarchy. If they want to publicly show their sense of their rights, nothing can be done about it.”