Lalu's former 'Man Friday' on RJD's rule in Bihar: 'Kidnapping cases managed from CM House'

Lalu Prasad Yadav served as BIhar CM from 1990 to 1997 while Rabri Devi remained CM from 1997 to 2005. (File Photo: PTI)

Binging back the spotlight on what Opposition parties have often termed as the 'Jungle Raj' to refer to the Rashtriya Janata Dal's rule in Bihar from 1990 to 2005, former RJD MLC and Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Yadav has claimed that kidnapping cases during those days "were managed from the CM House".

Lalu Yadav was the Bihar Chief Minister from 1990-1997 while his wife Rabri Devi served as his successor on the post from 1997 to 2005. The decade-and-a-half-long tenure of the RJD was marked with an alarming rise in crime -- often linked to Lalu's two notorious brother-in-laws Sadhu Yadav and Subhash Yadav.

The Opposition had then accused the Lalu-Rabri dispensation of allowing criminals a free run and have often pointed to the rampant instances of kidnapping and extortion. The charges sparked massive uproar in Bihar and the RJD was voted out of power in 2005 and has since failed to win a majority on its own.

With signs of a recovery visible in the previous Assembly elections when the RJD emerged as the single largest party in the state, the RJD is hopeful of forming a government under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav. The party has also tried to leave the "jungle raj" allegations behind it and instead focused on issues like unemployment and reservation.

However, the comments from Rabri's brother Subhash Yadav have brought the alleged RJD misrule back to the centre stage months ahead of the Assembly elections in Bihar.

"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...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)," he told news channels.

Subhash further alleged that automobile showrooms in Patna were made to forcibly provide their new cars to welcome guests for the wedding of Lalu’s daughter Rohini Acharya.

The former RJD leader further said that the NDA would secure a convincing victory in the Bihar elections and that the RJD would have split had it not been for anti-defection laws. He also termed Tejashwi Yadav "a seasonal politician".

While Lalu's immediate family has not maintained any ties with Rabri's brothers Subhash and Sadhu Yadav, the remarks have provided fuel to the NDA to target the RJD in a poll year.

"He (Subhash) 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," JD(U) chief spokesperson and MLC Neeraj Kumar said.

BJP leader and Bihar Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Singh also 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."

However, RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav suggested an Opposition design in the sudden resurfacing of Lalu's estranged brother-in-law. "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.

Sadhu Yadav, Rabri and Subhash's elder brother, also dismissed the allegations and accused his brother 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,” he said.