Bihar polls ahead, Rabri Devi’s brother reopens an old RJD wound – ‘jungle raj’

The four words hit hard at the 15 years of RJD rule in the state, which was accused by its rivals of allowing criminals a free run, with kidnappings and extortion rampant. Kislay was recovered from Samastipur, but, days later, when Bihar voted, the RJD was shown the door, and has not managed to come back to power in the state since.

Ahead of the Assembly elections due later this year, “that spectre of RJD rule” has been evoked again – by none other than Subhash Yadav, Rabri’s brother and RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s brother-in-law. Subhash, a former RJD MLC and ex-Rajya Sabha MP, has long been out of favour with the RJD first family. However, what made his remarks hit home was that Subhash and his brother Sadhu Yadav a.k.a Aniruddh Prasad were once alleged to be at the centre of all the wrongdoings in the RJD reign – one reason why Lalu cut off links with the two.

Ending his long stint away from public limelight, Subhash spoke recently about the “lawlessness” during the Lalu-Rabri regime (1990-2005), adding that “kidnapping cases would get managed from the CM House”. Speaking to news channels, Subhash said: “Opposition leaders would often blame me for making deals in kidnappings, but it was the CM House that used to make calls to suspects and often resolve the matter.”

In a personal dig at Lalu, Subhash added: “Had I been behind the kidnappings, I would have been put in jail, just as Laluji was (the RJD chief was convicted in fodder scam cases).”

Repeating another oft-made allegation, Subhash alleged that Patna showrooms were made to forcibly provide their new cars to welcome guests for the wedding of Lalu’s daughter Rohini Acharya.

It is not the first time that Subhash, who fell out with Lalu soon after the RJD lost power and cut off all links around 2010 when Lalu’s children started their rise in politics, has made such allegations. However, the timing may provide just the ammunition the NDA needs ahead of the Assembly polls.

Under Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD has been trying to put the image of “bahubali” leaders and “lawlessness” behind it, with Tejashwi focusing on youths and making unemployment his main plank.

Fresh off the Delhi victory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Bhagalpur on February 24, in what is seen as virtually the launch of the BJP’s Bihar poll campaign. The RJD apprehends Modi may make the most of Subhash’s statement.

Subhash, who now dabbles in businesses such as an LPG dealership, also predicted a landslide victory for the NDA in the coming Assembly polls. He said that the RJD would have split many ways but for laws against anti-defection, while dubbing Tejashwi, who was recently formally crowned by Lalu as his successor, “a seasonal politician”.

Soon after Subhash’s statement, JD(U) chief spokesperson and MLC Neeraj Kumar said Lalu should clarify what he had said. “He has cited specific incidents and made direct allegations against Lalu. If Lalu Prasad does not file a defamation case against Subhash Yadav, it would be proof that Subhash is speaking the truth about the dark days of the Lalu-Rabri regime.”

BJP leader and Bihar Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Singh said that his own son was kidnapped during that period. “How can I forget those times? When my son was abducted, I had to approach an RJD leader for his safe recovery.”

RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav said Subhash’s allegations were part of the NDA’s design. “Ever since Lalu said that he would not let the NDA win Bihar again, there has been restlessness in the NDA camp… We see our rivals behind Subhash’s baseless allegations,” he said.

In some relief for the RJD, Sadhu Yadav, Rabri and Subhash’s elder brother and a former Gopalganj MP, accused Subhash of “talking nonsense”. “Subhash is playing into the hands of Lalu Prasad’s political rivals… It was Subhash himself who was involved in resolving kidnapping cases,” Sadhu said.

The two brothers too have not been on talking terms for years now. At one time, while Sadhu was seen as close to Rabri, and Subhash was said to have Lalu’s ear.

The RJD rule

The law and order figures for the RJD term in power from 1990 to 1995 show a surge in kidnappings for ransom, apart from in caste crimes.

There were 337 killings, including of 50 Maoists, in over 20 caste killings between 1994 and 2000, while between 2001 and 2004, Bihar recorded 1,527 kidnappings, 411 of these in 2004 alone.

Among the most well-known cases was the 2002 abduction of three leading Patna doctors in quick succession. The abduction of orthopaedic Dr Bharat Singh had drawn protesters to the streets, and he was eventually released after a week.

Another much-reported case was the kidnapping of a Hindustan Times photographer, Ashok Karn. When accosted by fellow mediapersons over the same, Lalu had said: “He will be released in two hours.” The photojournalist was released the same evening.

In 2003, a relative of then Prisons Minister Raghvendra Pratap Singh was abducted on his way to school. Then DGP D P Ojha, during an election campaign in 2005, said even the minister’s family had to pay Rs 30 lakh in ransom before the boy was released.

In 2006, one year after the NDA government led by Nitish Kumar replaced the RJD regime, kidnapping numbers in Bihar fell to 194, and by 2010, had tumbled to 72.

In August 1997, hearing a petition, the Patna High Court used the term “jungle raj” to describe the state of law and order in Bihar. The phrase has stuck with the Lalu-Rabri regime since – now resurfacing ahead of the Assembly elections.