RJD national working president Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Friday demanded fresh elections to the Delhi legislative assembly shortly after a Delhi court acquitted former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and 21 others in the alleged liquor policy case. Tejashwi alleged that his family members and other opposition leaders were being harassed under political vendetta and expressed hope that he too would “get justice” one day.
Speaking to reporters in Patna, Tejashwi said the court’s judgment exposed the real face of the BJP govt, which he alleged was using constitutional institutions against opposition leaders under political vendetta.
“The Delhi elections were fought on the issue of the liquor scandal, which ultimately proved disastrous for Kejriwal. Now that he was acquitted by the court, how and who will compensate for it?” Tejashwi asked, adding, “Iski bharpai kaun karega?” He demanded that fresh elections be conducted in Delhi so that people could vote on “real issues”.
“Ham chahte hain ki Delhi me dubara chunaav karwaya jaye taki janata sahi mudde par voting kare,” he said. He alleged that not only Kejriwal but the entire opposition leadership was facing the consequences of the BJP’s “political vendetta”.
Referring to his own family’s case, Tejashwi said investigative agencies had earlier given a clean chit in the alleged IRCTC case and questioned its reopening. “The CBI investigated the matter three times earlier and closed it.
Yet, the case was filed again, but the CBI claims the case was not investigated properly in the past,” he said.
“What is the point in investigating the case the 4th time? This is only meant to tarnish our image,” he alleged, adding that central agencies were acting like “tools” of the central govt instead of acting on “facts and evidence”. He expressed confidence that justice would prevail, saying, “Nayay hamlog ke saath bhi milega.”
Reacting to his remarks, JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said the party could not comment on the court’s judgment. “But it is also a fact that fodder scam cases were filed against Lalu Prasad (then Bihar CM) when his party was in power at the Centre and he acted as the King Maker!” Kumar said, adding that the conviction in the fodder scam established complicity.
“As far as the land for job scandal is concerned, Lalu did not leave even his own family members,” Kumar alleged, adding that the truth would come out one day.
