With the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) stepping up its protests against Bihar's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters' rolls, its former Chief Minister Rabri Devi has accused a conspiracy to kill Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of Opposition in the state.
During a press interaction, Rabri Devi launched a sharp attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], accusing them of orchestrating a scheme to endanger Tejashwi Yadav’s life amid ongoing dissent surrounding the SIR process.
"We will surely protest as it is all about the people of Bihar. What about 4 crore people who have moved out of the state?. We have been encircling the Assembly since 5 days. The state government needs to react. 4 attempts to murder Tejashwi Yadav and his life is at stake. The BJP and JD(U) are doing it. " she declared.
The opposition has raised sharp objections to the electoral roll updation, warning that it had the potential to disenfranchise a large number of voters, particularly migrant workers and economically weaker sections of society who might find it difficult to provide required documents. But the Election Commission of India (ECI) has come to the defense of the SIR, terming it a normal, court-monitored process, and claiming that 99% of the registered voters are already included.
With the Bihar Assembly polls expected later this year—most likely during October or November—electoral heat is building up. The incumbent NDA alliance of the BJP, JD(U), and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) is set to stand its ground, while the opposition INDIA coalition of the RJD, Congress, and Left parties is set to topple Nitish Kumar from office.
At the same time, Parliament has been disrupted since the commencement of its session on July 21, with proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha frequently being adjourned due to ongoing opposition protests.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge participated in lawmakers from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) at the Parliament's Makar Dwar during a protest against the Bihar voter roll update. Now at its fifth straight day, the demonstration was attended by key leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi.
The MPs, before the legislative session for the day, took out a procession from the Gandhi statue inside the Parliament complex with banners and placards. On one of the showy banners was written: "SIR-Attack on Democracy."
Shouting slogans such as "Modi sarkar down down" and "Stop the attack on democracy," INDIA bloc MPs protested against the Centre. For show, they also destroyed posters condemning the SIR, which marked their flat refusal of the Bihar voter list revision exercise.
Read also| Rajya Sabha Adjourned Until Monday as Opposition Protest Stalls Proceedings
