"Itna zyaada paida karna chahiye kisi ko...": Nitish Kumar taunts Lalu Prasad over dynastic politics; RJD hits back

Katihar (Bihar) [India], April 20 : In remarks that are likely to stir controversy and evoked sharp reaction from RJD leaders, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday taunted Lalu Prasad over the leadership mantle in the party being passed from one family member to the other and asked if someone should have so many children.
Nitish Kumar, who addressed a gathering here, referred to Lalu Prasad appointing his wife Rabri Devi as Bihar chief minister when he had to step down and said the leadership mantle was now with his children. He did not take any names.
"Some people claim everything these days. They appointed their wives when they were removed. Now, it is their children these days. 'Ab paida to bahut kar diya. Itna zyaada paida karna chahiye kisi ko, baal baccha?'. Now they have involved their sons, daughters, and everyone. They keep saying something or other everywhere. They forget the old things, hence, I want to tell everyone that no work used to get done. People could not get out, there were no roads or education." Kumar said.
Kumar again tied hands with BJP after breaking ties with RJD in August last year. The BJP-led NDA ofen taunts RJD, saying there was "jungle raaj" during the 15 years of RJD-led rule in the state.
Lalu Prasad's two daughters - Misa Bharti and Rohini Acharya - are in the fray in the Lok Sabha elections. RJD has fielded Misa Bharti from Pataliputra and Rohini Acharya from Saran Lok Sabha seat.
Lalu Prasad's younger son, Tejashwi Yadav, was the deputy chief minister in the Nitish-led government and the older Tej Pratap Yadav held the environment portfolio. Tejashwi Yadav has emerged as the main challenger of Nitish Kumar, who has been in power in Bihar for almost 19 years.
Lalu Prasad broke ranks with his then colleagues and top Janta Dal leaders such as Sharad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan in 1997 to form his own party - RJD - and installed his wife Rabri Devi as the new Chief Minister, days before he was arrested in the multi-crore fodder scam case.
Hitting back at Nitish Kumar, RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari said that the Bihar CM is making personal comments against Lalu Prasad Yadav out of nervousness
"The BJP has stopped him from sharing a stage with the PM, he is in pain. And he also saw people's agitation during the polls yesterday. He is sure of his defeat. So he is making personal comments against Lalu Prasad Yadav out of nervousness. Nitish Kumar has no political ground left," he said.
Tejashwi Yadav asked if such "personal comments" from the JD-U leader will benefit the people of Bihar.
"He (Nitish Kumar) can say anything to us. Whatever he says is like a blessing for me... But the thing is, will such personal remarks benefit the people of Bihar... In elections, issues should be discussed... Who is writing such speeches for him?... He should speak on education, employment and stopping migration," Yadav.
Misa Bharti asked how Nitish Kumar was suddenly talking about the family.
"I am unble to understand what should I say about chachji (Nitish Kumar). Now, the people of Bihar will try to understand what the CM of Bihar wants to say. Was he not aware of this fact when he was with us? Now, he has started speaking on dynastic politics when Modiji stopped," she said.
Bihar will witness polling for 40 Lok Sabha seats across all seven phases of Lok Sabha polls. Polling was held in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls at Jamui, Nawada, Gaya, and Aurangabad on April 19.