Inflation, unemployment have broken people's back; RJD will take nation forward: Lalu Prasad Yadav

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav and wife Rabri Devi inaugurated party's foundation day event vie video conferencing on Monday. The RJD is celebrating its silver jubilee year on Monday, as 25 years ago on the same day, the party was formed by Lalu Prasad.

Lalu, who is in Delhi, addressed his party workers via video conference.

Hitting out at the BJP-led cenral government, Lalu Yadav said that inflation and unemployment have broken the backs of people, adding that RJD will take the nation forward in the coming days.

"GST and demonetisation as also corona have created an economic crisis. Now, there is the threat of destroying the social fabric. After Ayodhya, some people are talking about Mathura," Prasad, a strident critic of the BJP, said without naming the BJP or Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He attacked the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar over "rampant corruption", alleged mismanagement of the COVID-19 crisis and "four murders" taking place in the state every day.

"Lakhs and lakhs of people are being reduced to migrant labourers because of lack of employment," he said.

He lavished praise on his younger son Tejashwi Yadav, who is the leader of the opposition, for astutely helming the party during the assembly elections in 2020.

"Frankly, I had never expected this from him. He safely anchored the RJD's boat (naiya paar lagayi). RJD has a bright future," he said.

RJD is the single largest party in the 243-member Bihar assembly though the JD(U)-BJP alliance governs the state.

Prasad also had a word of praise for his elder son Tej Pratap who, he said, made a "forceful speech" at the event.

The RJD boss, known for breathing fire and brimstone while making political speeches, in his restrained addressess, credited his wife Rabri Devi, a former chief minister, and Tejashwi for being alive.

"But for them, I would have perished in Ranchi (where he was incarcerated in the fodder scame cases). Doctors at AIIMS here also took great care of me," Prasad, who slurred at times, said.

He promised RJD workers and leaders that he will overcome whatever remained of the illness and visit Bihar soon.

"I will come to Patna soon...not only Patna, I will mark my attendance in all districts of Bihar soon. Please don't lose patience," he told them.

"RJD's future is very bright. I have seen five PMs and helped them become so. I was made Union Minister but was not cared about. We will take the nation forward in the coming days. Inflation and unemployment have broken the backs of people," said RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav

"I want to convince people that we are not going to step back. We will not break. My rule was the rule of the poor. RJD farmers, youth, students and party should undergo regular training. People believe that RJD will bring an end to ongoing problems."

He stressed that the farmers, youth, students who are associated with the party should undergo regular training.

Notably, the RJD has announced that it would also celebrate the birth anniversary of Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJP) president Ram Vilas Paswan on Monday.

With PTI inputs