Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav on Wednesday said the corruption charges levelled against him were part of a “political conspiracy” and based on period when he “didn’t even have a moustache.”
“I was just 14-15 years old. How could I have indulged in such activities?. It is a political conspiracy against me by the BJP and its leaders Amit Shah and Narendra Modi”, he told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.
The charges were an attempt to “create a crack in the grand alliance” in Bihar. “But it will not happen. The alliance is strong and will continue to be so,” he said.
“When I took over as the Deputy Chief Minister, I made clear our policy of zero tolerance on the issue of corruption. Has any charge of corruption been levelled in any of the three departments I hold”, he asked.
The RJD would now go to the people’s court and expose the BJP’s “conspiracy” against them, he said.
Sources said a tense atmosphere prevailed at the Cabinet meeting, which lasted only for 25 minutes. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar maintained a stoic silence and did not speak to journalists.
On Tuesday, the JD(U) asked the RJD to make its stand clear on the corruption charges against Mr. Yadav.