Patna: In a strong protest against the withdrawal of the Z+ security cover, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Saturday returned all security personnel deployed at their official residence, escalating a political row over the issue.
The move drew a sharp reaction from the RJD, which accused the government of engaging in “revenge-driven politics” and attempting to weaken the opposition through administrative measures.
Reacting to the development, RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav, who was seen guarding the residence of the Lalu family, told IANS, “The decision to reduce the security cover of the Lalu family was both disgusting and politically motivated.”
He argued that such actions were inconsistent with democratic principles and raised serious concerns about the government’s intentions.
“The government has deliberately and drastically reduced the security of the Lalu family. Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav was recently hit by a vehicle. Despite that incident, the reduction in security raises questions about the intent behind this decision,” Yadav said.
He alleged that the ruling establishment was attempting to intimidate political opponents and create pressure on the opposition through administrative actions rather than democratic engagement.
The RJD leader further pointed out that Rabri Devi is not only a former Chief Minister but also the current Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council. He noted that Lalu Prasad Yadav has also served as Chief Minister of the state and remains one of Bihar’s most prominent political figures.
According to Yadav, despite the stature and public roles of the family members, the security arrangements provided to them have been curtailed, prompting concern within the party.
Questioning the rationale behind the move, he asked, “The ruling party seems to want Lalu Ji and his family to be attacked in the middle of a public square,” while alleging that the government was deliberately targeting opposition leaders.
The RJD spokesperson claimed that the ruling party was pursuing a political strategy aimed at marginalising and weakening its opponents. He argued that the controversy over security was the latest in a series of issues involving the opposition.
“First, a controversy was created over housing, and now the issue of security has been raised. The public mandate determines the roles of both the ruling party and the opposition, and any attempt to weaken the opposition is against democratic values. They want to eliminate the opposition, to bulldoze it,” Singh said.
Maintaining that the issue extends beyond the Lalu family, he asserted that it concerns the broader functioning of democracy and the treatment of opposition parties within the political system.
He further stated that the people of Bihar would not accept what he described as an attack on the public mandate and democratic norms.
“If anything happens to the leaders of the public, the people of Bihar will not forgive you (government),” Singh added, reiterating the party’s opposition to the reported reduction in security cover.
(IANS)
