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Journalism of Courage
He likes to be called saathi and targets chacha Nitish. He scoffs at allegations of dynastic politics,and hails youth power. He talks development and promises change. If the words are familiar,so may be the face: meet Tejaswi Prasad Yadav,the cricketer son of Lalu Prasad,the latest politician offspring to enter active politics.
Friday marked the start of Tejaswis Bihar Yatra from Samastipur,where he urged people to forget Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and give a chance to baap and beta (Lalu and him) to turn the state around.
Chacha Nitish Kumar khali futuristic baat karte hain. Ye karenge,wo karenge. Akhbaron me khali shilanyas ka photo chapta hai. Ab chacha ko bhuliye and hamen mauka dijiye. Jaise pitaji ne Railway chamka diya tha,baap beta milkar Bihar chamka denge (Uncle Nitish only talks about the future. Well do this,well do that. Newspapers only carry pictures of foundation stones. Now forget the uncle and give a chance to us. Like my father left the Railways shining,the father-son duo will do the same for Bihar), Tejaswi told a cheering Samastipur audience in a packed hall,most of them youths.
If 60 per cent youths vouch for change in Bihar,it is bound to take place,he added. He also promised 50 per cent participation of youths in the RJD,while taking experienced party leaders along.
While Tejaswi had tested political waters during the 2010 Assembly election campaign,Lalu who has smelt blood because of the growing BJP-JD(U) rift has now entrusted his youngest son with mobilising the youth force. Tejaswi will be travelling to as many districts as possible and holding youth sammelans (meetings) as a build-up for the RJDs planned May 15 Maharaila at Patnas Gandhi Maidan.
Tejaswi,who likes to be addressed as saathi (friend) rather than yuvraj or yuva samrat by party workers and holds no RJD post yet,launched the yatra from Karpoori Gram in Samastipur,the birthplace of former chief minister and socialist leader Karpoori Thakur. He garlanded Thakurs statue and met his immediate family members as well as visited a college named after the leader.
Speaking like a seasoned politician,Tejaswi attacked Nitishs development plank and said time had come to defeat selfish people known only for great slogans. Saying he had been hearing and reading a lot about development works,he said: But why are children still studying under the shade of trees at schools? If there are students,there are no teachers. Students used to go to schools with slates,but they are going there with plates and getting food infested with insects.
Dismissing talk of dynastic rule,he said people such as Rahul Gandhi,Omar Abdullah and Akhilesh Yadav were thriving in politics not just because of their surnames but because of development politics.
Defending Lalu,he said Nitish and several of his ministers had flourished under his father and later deserted him. Now when my father is all alone,is it not my duty to support him? he asked.
