Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Bihar Assembly LoP Tejashwi Yadav speaks to the media over the withdrawal of Z+ security cover from RJD leaders Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi, on June 9, 2026.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The withdrawal of Z+ security for former Bihar Chief Ministers Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi and the notice to Ms. Devi to vacate the government bungalow at 10, Circular Road, Patna, are attempts to divert attention from the real issues of the people, Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly Tejashwi Yadav said on Tuesday (June 9, 2026).This is the first time Mr. Yadav has spoken about the matter of Z+ security. He was speaking to reporters at the Patna airport upon his arrival from New Delhi.Targeting Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary over the matter, Mr. Yadav said that even after becoming the Chief Minister, there was no change in Mr. Choudhary’s thinking. “He may have become the Chief Minister, but he is a Cheap Minister,” he said.Last Saturday, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders and workers were seen standing guard, holding sticks in their hands, at the gate of 10, Circular Road residence, where the Lalu family resides, after Mr. Prasad and Ms. Devi had sent back the security cover provided to them in place of the Z+ cover.‘Corruption at peak, crimes a new normal’“The State’s treasury is empty; no work is being carried out; corruption is at its peak; prices of petrol and diesel are increasing every day; murder, dacoity, and gang rape are taking place every day; people are not getting their pensions; and Ministers and legislators are not getting their salaries. So, to divert attention from these issues, Samrat Choudhary has played up the security issue, so that people debate over it. But let me say it very clearly that it is not an issue for us,” Mr. Yadav said.Last week, the BJP-led Bihar Government withdrew the Z+ security for Mr. Prasad and Ms. Devi and instead provided them security with Bihar Special Armed Police (BSAP) personnel. Before that, the Bihar Building Construction Department (BCD) had also served notice to Ms. Devi, Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council, to vacate the 10, Circular Road bungalow, giving her 15-day ultimatum.Mr. Yadav said, “Rabri Devi got the bungalow in her capacity as former Chief Minister, and there has been no change in her status since 2005. Samrat Choudhary is doing cheap politics out of political vendetta with a narrow mindset. For us, the security and the bungalow are not the issues. I am not afraid of anyone; people of Bihar are with us.”Without naming any leader from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Mr. Yadav claimed that several ruling leaders had got bungalows in violation of rules.‘Falsehood will be exposed’The RJD also targeted Nishant Kumar, son of former CM Nitish Kumar, over his education qualification a day after Mr. Nishant filed the nomination for biennial polls. In the affidavit, it is mentioned that he studied engineering but did not complete the degree.In the post on X, the party said, “It turns out that the son of Nitish Kumar, whom people never got tired of calling as engineer, has only passed 12th grade. He himself has declared in the election affidavit that he is not a graduate. All the layers of falsehood of these dishonest people opposing dynastic politics will be exposed. Wait and see.”According to the affidavit, Mr. Nishant passed the Intermediate Examination in 1998 from Science College, Patna, and after that he enrolled in the Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Science) degree course at Birla Institute of Technology, MESRA, Ranchi, and completed five of the eight prescribed semesters till 2001. Published - June 09, 2026 09:09 pm IST
