Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is one of the BJP’s tallest OBC leaders in the state. In an interview with The Indian Express, he talks about the Opposition’s criticism of Narendra Modi for his comments on Opposition leaders who “cook mutton during saawan (monsoon)” or “eat fish during Navratri” — the PM’s dig at RJD leader Lalu Prasad, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and Lalu’s son Tejashwi Yadav — the Bihar caste survey, and his criticism of Nitish Kumar in the past. Excerpts: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s criticism of Opposition leaders who “cook mutton in the month of saawan” and “eat fish during Navratri” is aimed at diverting attention from real issues … People here know that Lalu Prasad ji eats chaara (fodder). He was eating mutton during saawan and also making Rahul Gandhi eat it. This is a question of the asmita (pride) of people who believe in Sanatana Dharma. The PM also said there is full freedom to eat what you wish. But doing so publicly, eating fish publicly in the month of saawan, on Ram Navami, or during Navratras … should this be done? Lalu Prasad’s ji’s family has made a mockery of democracy. He has been involved in scams and his whole family is immersed in corruption. The BJP has alleged that the Congress manifesto resembles the manifesto of the Muslim League of colonial times. The Opposition says these are deliberate attempts at diverting attention from pressing matters. We are clear on this. Modi ji has been the Prime Minister for 10 years. The minorities of the country have seen his work. It is not that someone has been asked to leave the country. We are trying to rehabilitate those who became minorities in neighbouring countries during Partition as they are also our people. At the same time, Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu Prasad, and Akhilesh Yadav are just following the template of appeasement. This is what people are angry about. The Opposition has demanded and promised a caste census and Bihar is the state that offered the template months ago. Nitish Kumar is now with you. So, what does the BJP have to say about the caste census demand? The BJP’s official stand is that we are not against caste census. We support it. How it is to be done only time will tell. But, in Bihar, we have done it (caste survey). In the Cabinet of Nitish Kumar ji, of 29-30 ministers, 16 were from the BJP. We gave the mandate. On the request of Nitish Kumar ji, we passed it. Where are Tejashwi or Lalu Prasad in this matter? They are nowhere. Are you saying that the BJP supported the caste survey move when Nitish Kumar was with you the last time? I am telling you the date. On June 20, 2022, we were part of the state government. We passed it. Where were they (the RJD)? They were not even aware that such a decision was being taken. You were a strident critic of Nitish Kumar when you were on opposite sides … It is said you began to wear a turban after vowing that you would take it off only after removing him from power. As for the turban, as soon as I get time I will take it off and place it at the feet of Lord Ram. But it is clear that till Nitish Kumar ji was our opponent, we were fighting an ideological battle. I have worked politically for a long time with him. In 1995, when I joined politics, it was because of the atrocities of Lalu Prasad ji. My homes were brought down and 22 people from my family were sent to jail. I was in jail for 88 days. I had to take thousands of lathi blows from Lalu Prasad ji’s sarkari goondas (government goons). I also made Lalu Prasad ji apologise at Patna’s Miller school ground. When will you visit Ayodhya to offer your turban to Lord Ram? As soon as the election process ends and as soon as I get time after that. You are called the BJP’s emerging face in Bihar. What do you have to say? I am a small political worker. But I have been working for a long time. Politically, the BJP gives everyone chances. It has also given me chances quite a few times. This is itself a big thing for me. I don’t dream about my future. But I do dream that Bihar becomes developed; that it has good governance. My father quit the Congress because it did not give him a leadership position. But the BJP made me the Leader of the Opposition, a minister as well as party president. In 2019, NDA won 39 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, with the BJP winning all the 17 it contested. Could the party have improved its tally had it gone alone and what does it gain from the alliance with JD(U)? When there is an alliance, we discuss the collective interests of the parties. We are going to the polls in Bihar as NDA and Nitish Kumar ji is an influential and important face. Other parties are also there. This is our collective effort as NDA and we hope that we will win all 40 seats. What about the RJD’s manifesto? They have promised one crore government jobs and Rs 1 lakh per annum to poor women on Raksha Bandhan. We have no worries as Lalu Prasad ji’s manifesto is just a show-off and he can’t do anything apart from that.
