‘Tejashwi Yadav bol rahe hain’: RJD leader’s phone call to top Bihar official is going viral

A video of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav speaking to a top official in Bihar during a teachers’ protest is going viral on social media.

In a show of support, the Bihar Opposition leader had joined the agitation in Patna when he was told the protesters had been denied permission for a sit-in at their planned venue. Yadav then dialed Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh to seek assurance that the protest would be allowed.

In the video, Tejashwi Yadav is seen talking to Singh on speaker phone, while surrounded by teachers. Yadav is heard asking if the teachers would have to seek permission on a daily basis for their protest.

“There has been lathi charge, their food has been thrown away, they were driven away… Now, some are here with me at ECO Park. All they want it to be allowed to protest,” Yadav said, adding that he would “WhatsApp their application.”

When Yadav sought to know when he would hear back from the DM, Singh shot back saying, “Kab tak meaning? You haven’t sent the application and are questioning me.” Yadav then introduced himself amid protestors’ laughter: “Hum Tejashwi Yadav bol rahein hai, DM sahab (This is Tejashwi Yadav speaking).”

After a pause, Singh replied: ‘Acha, ok sir.” The protesters had a laugh at the official’s quick change of tone.

In the Bihar Assembly elections held last year, the NDA scraped past the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance in a nail-biting contest to retain power in Bihar. The ruling coalition, led by Nitish Kumar, clinched 125 seats in the 243-member House against the 110 secured by Yadav’s Grand Alliance.