RJD downplays Tej-govt face-off

Ranchi: The state unit of RJD unit is in a predicament over former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav’s strong criticism of the FIR against him by the Ranchi administration. Ranchi sadar circle officer had registered an FIR against Tej Pratap for violating the state’s quarantine rules during his visit to Ranchi to meet his father, RJD president Lalu Prasad on Friday. He was also accused of entering and leaving Jharkhand without permission and staying at a hotel when all lodges were closed to contain the spread of the virus
After returning to Bihar, Tej Pratap said the FIR should have been registered against the Jharkhand government as he had applied for waiver of the quarantine rules. He claimed that he was not provided any accommodation and had no option but to stay in a hotel. He also asked the state government to withdraw the FIR.
A senior RJD leader said the party is a partner in the mahagathbandhan government and cannot question the action even though it cannot oppose the stand taken by Tej Pratap. “We have to back both the government and Tej Pratap in the episode,” he said. RJD state pice-president Rajesh Yadav said, “There should be no debate on a decision taken by the government. However, we cannot criticize or go against Tej Pratap’s stand either.”
RJD’s Jharkhand president Abhay Singh and Congress spokesperson Alok Dubey refused to respond to Tej Pratap’s statement. JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya, however, stated, “Law took its course and No one is above law.” Sources said that withdrawing a case where the government is complainant is a long process involving multiple stakeholders.