The son rushed to defend dad. Bihar Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav on Wednesday asked Opposition what was the problem if his father, lalu Prasad, was using his good offices to help needy people.
Tej’s comments came in the wake of criticism from the Opposition on lalu telephoning a civil surgeon and asking him to take back in service the women health workers. The Opposition once again alleged that lalu was behaving like a ‘Super CM’ and directly interfering in the Government affairs.
Tej said, “laluji is not only president of RJD, he is a national leader. If people approaches him for help he takes its as his duty to help them. Why others are worried and doing politics. The Opposition is desperate after its defeat and good works our Government is doing.”
lalu received support from an unexpected quarter. Senior BJP leader Dr CP Thakur defending RJD chief said the politicians are approached by people to get their works done. Since lalu’s son is in the Government, people meet him for recommending their work; said the former Bihar BJP chief and added that BJP should not indulge in this affair.
BJP leader and former Health Minister Nand Kishore Yadav said if lalu found problems in health department he should tell it to his elder son. “It seems lalu does not take his Health Minister son worthy or he has no faith in him. That is the reason he is directly issuing orders to the officials,” he alleged.
lalu’s alleged intervention in Government affairs not only created a stir in the political circles, particularly the Opposition which once again cried foul calling RJD supremo Super CM, but also put the officials in a fix.
After a visit to Government owned Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences where he went from ward to ward and gave directions to the director and health officials, lalu phoned civil surgeon of Darbhanga and asked him to retain the contract female health workers called Asha workers whose services were discontinued. A delegation of Asha workers had called on lalu urging him to get their services continue.
The civil surgeon acted swiftly and sent an official, letter to health department informing that he has retained the services of Asha workers at the instruction of lalu Prasad. The local TV channels showed to the official letter which had mention of lalu, who holds no official position.
lalu however, denied he asked civil surgeon to re-employ the Asha workers. He said, “Four dalit women came to see me who served as Asha workers. They said the doctor asked them to prepare tea which they refused. The doctor removed them from contract job. I told the civil surgeon to let them do for what they had been recruited and not other works. I did not ask him to take back them in job.”
Hopwever, there is a buzz in the bureaucratic and political circles that lalu has been interfering in departments which are held by his sons, Tej and Tejaswi Prasad Yadav who is also Deputy CM and both holds six departments including road and building contraction, forest and environment besides health. There have been reports that lalu is calling up DMs and SPs and giving them directions.