Bihar News: SC Commission Issues Notice To Lalu Yadav Over Viral Ambedkar Portrait Video
Patna: RJD chief Lalu Prasad has found himself in a soup for an ‘unexpected’ reason as State Commission for Scheduled Castes has issued a notice to him after a video allegedly showing him having a portrait of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar placed close to his feet, went viral on social media.
In the video, Lalu is seen seated on a couch with his feet placed on a sofa nearby as a supporter enters the room carrying the portrait of Ambedkar, and places it close to former's feet before greeting him during former`s birthday celebrations held earlier this week.
In the notice to Lalu, the Commission has asked Lalu to clarify his position on the viral video, and also explain why a case should not be registered against him under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
A battery of senior NDA leaders including union minister and HAM patron Jitan Ram Manjhi and deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary missed no time to attack him, accusing him of insulting Ambedkar, also considered as Dalit icon.
Although it has to be seen whether NDA will be able to make further inroads into the Dalit vote bank in the assembly election by hammering the issue, RJD finds itself in a piquant situation.
Former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav by defending his father said, “Lalu Yadav has installed many statues of Baba Saheb Ambedkar in Bihar. We are the people who believe in Ambedkar's ideology. Lalu Yadav works for 10 hours at the age of 78 and meets people. "These (BJP) people have nothing to do with Baba Saheb, constitution, and reservation," he added.
Responding to the SC Commission`s notice to Lalu, senior JD (U) leader and minister Ashok Choudhary said, "The SC Commission is a constitutional institution. It has sent a notice to Lalu, it is their matter what they have sent. Lalu has had a kidney transplant, his health is not good. He should avoid such events. When your health is not good, you cannot accept any gift, so is it necessary to allow someone to bring a gift? This should be avoided. When you were being given a picture of Ambedkar ji, you should have respected that picture, you are not even able to do that. People's feelings will definitely be hurt by this.”
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