Tej Pratap Yadav, leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), celebrated Holi with party workers at his official residence in Patna on Saturday.
A video from the event has since gone viral on social media, triggering controversy as it shows Yadav instructing a uniformed policeman to dance during the festivities.
In the widely circulated clip, Yadav is seen seated on a stage, addressing the officer by name. He can be heard saying, "Hey Deepak, I will play a song, and you must dance. Don't mind, it's Holi. If you don't dance today, you will be suspended."
His remarks, seemingly made in jest, have sparked sharp criticism from opposition parties.
Leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] have condemned Yadav’s actions, drawing parallels between him and his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, the former Chief Minister of Bihar. They argued that the video reflects the RJD’s disregard for law enforcement and an inclination toward "Jungle Raj."
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Yadav of attempting to exert undue pressure on police officers, comparing his behavior to that of his father’s tenure as Chief Minister.
He stated, "Like father, like son. First, the father made the law dance to his tunes, turning Bihar into 'Jungle Raj.' Now, the son, despite being out of power, is trying to make law enforcers dance through threats. If RJD ever returns to power, this will be just a glimpse of what is to come. It is crucial to keep them away from governance."
JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad also denounced the incident, asserting that Bihar had moved beyond its past governance style.
He remarked, "‘Jungle Raj’ has ended, but Lalu Yadav’s Yuvraj (Prince) is now threatening a policeman with consequences if he does not obey his demand to dance. Bihar has changed, and such actions no longer have a place in today’s political environment. Whether it is Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav, or any other member of the Lalu family, they must understand that Bihar will not tolerate such behavior anymore."
The controversy comes as Bihar prepares for the upcoming assembly elections later this year. The Election Commission of India has not yet announced the official polling dates, but the political climate in the state is already heating up.
Also Read: Policeman killed in Bihar's Munger; 6 villagers arrested
Follow us
