Nitish Kumar's JD(U) asks Tejashwi Yadav to prove his allegation on liquor trade or take 'Sanyas' from politics

PATNA: Bihar's ruling JD(U) on Tuesday asked the Leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav to either prove his undignified allegation regarding home delivery of illegal liquor or take ‘sanyas’ (retirement) from politics.

The party also urged the Election Commission to take cognizance of Tejashwi’s baseless allegation that a senior politician getting cut money in illegal business of home delivery of liquor, and take suitable action against the RJD leader.

Tejashwi while addressing a joint press-conference along with other senior leaders of grand alliance had on Monday alleged that prohibition has totally failed in Bihar as smuggled liquor are freely available in many parts of the state.

Tejashwi had also alleged that due to the state government’s failure to check illegal trade of liquor, a bottle of foreign liquor worth Rs 200 was being sold at a cost of Rs 1,500 and the margin money of Rs 1,300 was being pocketed by a senior politician.

Alarmed by Tejashwi’s allegations, JD(U) on Tuesday asked its four state-level spokespersons to hold a joint press-conference and give point-wise reply on the allegations levelled by the leader of opposition.

Addressing a joint press conference at their party office here, the JD(U) spokespersons namely Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, Anjum Ara, Arvind Kumar Nishad and Navin Kumar Arya said Tejashwi should prove his allegations or take retirement from the politics.

“The state had progressed towards a big change due to the historic decision of liquor ban taken by CM Nitish Kumar. The prohibition has not only reduced the incidents of domestic violence against women but also brought happiness in many homes as the money saved from liquor are being used on purchase of children’s needs,” they said.

Countering Tejashwi’s another allegation, JD(U) spokespersons said their party has not given up the demand for grant of special status to Bihar and it would continue to raise the demand at proper platform.

“Tejashwi should explain that what step the RJD’s ally Congress took in the last 50 years for development of Bihar. Tejashwi should also explain as to what was the role of Congress on Bihar government’s demand for grant of special status,” they said.

Countering Tejashwi on the issue of reservation, Arvind Nishad said that the leaders of grand alliance were trying to confuse people by issuing “baseless” statements regarding the Centre’s alleged move to scrap the provision of reservation for the SC, ST and OBCs. Nishad said, “The JD(U) and its president Nitish Kumar was very committed on the issue of protecting the provision of quota for the members of SC, ST and other backward classes. It was Nitish Kumar who first provided quota to backwards in the panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies.”

Nitish Kumar’s credentials on issue of fighting for the cause of quota could not be challenged by people like Tejashwi Yadav, Nishad said.