Patna buzzed with political fireworks on Wednesday as Jan Shakti Janata Dal national president Tej Pratap Yadav unleashed a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Targeting Gandhi’s claims of upholding Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals, Yadav questioned the authenticity of his Gandhian credentials amid the ongoing debate over renaming MGNREGA.
Responding to Rahul’s assertion that altering the scheme’s name dishonors the Father of the Nation, Yadav retorted sharply. ‘Just slapping ‘Gandhi’ onto a name doesn’t make anyone a true follower of Gandhian principles,’ he declared. He challenged Rahul’s concerns over who disrespects Gandhi, pointing to stark contradictions in his lifestyle.
‘You ride bullet motorcycles—did Mahatma Gandhi ever ride one?’ Yadav asked pointedly. ‘You wear jeans and shirts—did Bapu don such attire?’ He highlighted Gandhi’s promotion of the spinning wheel and khadi as symbols of simplicity and self-reliance, urging Rahul to practice what he preaches.
Yadav accused Rahul of hypocrisy, insisting that symbolic gestures without personal conduct amount to mere pretense. ‘Adding ‘Gandhi’ to a name or title doesn’t turn anyone into a saint,’ he emphasized. For Yadav, Mahatma Gandhi embodied not just an ideology but a life of austerity, restraint, and sacrifice.
Leaders invoking Gandhian values, he argued, must reflect them in their daily lives, not just speeches. This isn’t Yadav’s first salvo; post-Bihar assembly election results, he’s ramped up criticism of INDIA alliance figures, especially Rahul, while cozying up to BJP leaders.
On Makar Sankranti, Yadav visited Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha’s residence, exchanging greetings and posing for photos. When pressed on potential NDA entry, both leaders dodged, saying announcements would come in due time. As Bihar’s political landscape shifts, Yadav’s barbs signal deepening rifts and realignments.