Hyderabad: Opposition leader Tejaswi Yadav lambasted the government for its failure on the coronavirus pandemic front and the decisions regarding the imposition of lockdown.
In an exclusive interview to ETV Bharat, Yadav raised the issues of migrant labourers and wondered how employment opportunities would be created in Bihar.
Tejaswi said a large number of labourers trapped in other states have returned to Bihar. Though the Bihar government should have made all the arrangements for their journey back home, the migrant labourers had come back on their own.
He alleged that though the Bihar government was being driven by ‘twin-engine’, it had washed its hands of all its responsibilities.
He alleged that the government was not serious about conducting the coronavirus test on the migrant workers, putting them in quarantine facilities and providing them with employment.
Yadav said that already there were seven crore unemployed people in Bihar and with the addition of migrant workers the problem had become gargantuan. For the first time, a large number of skilled labourers are available in Bihar. What is the government doing about them? He asked.
Labourers went without food
In times of coronavirus crisis, both the opposition and the ruling party should have worked together. But Chief Minister Nitish Kumar waited for long and did not initiate steps for bringing migrant workers trapped in other states.
Tug of war continued between the state government and the railways over the cost because of which the labourers had to pay a heavy price. Trains arrived late or reached some other destination and the labourers were not provided food.
Great potential in processing units and IT sector
Laloo Prasad Yadav tried for social justice, our effort is for getting economic justice for the people.
Bihar is extremely backward in the field of education, health and employment generation.
The situation can be changed if there is political will. There is great potential in the areas of jute mills, food processing units and the IT sector.
How to take Bihar forward?
Tejaswi was asked how he proposed to take Bihar forward and if he had prepared a blueprint.
To this, he said he has been working on this issue for long. He has a blueprint ready which includes steps to stop the migration of people and plan of action with regard to art and tourism.
He said that there are great employment opportunities in Bihar. Fruits grow here. There are engineers who go out of state to work. There is a need to set up industries for them.
On the JP movement
RJD legislative party leader Tejaswi Yadav said many a times one needs to change principles to save the society. Talking to ETV Bharat, he said his father Laloo Yadav was a product of the JP movement and so was Nitish Kumar. However, some compromise has to be made to take along all sections of the society.
How many marks to the present government?
Asked how would he rate the performance of the Nitish Kumar government? To this, he said that it is not possible to give it any marks as it has not done any work.
It has been in the nature of Nitish Kumar to fire the gun from someone else’s shoulder and stab in the back. People of Bihar are watching this and will give a fitting reply.
On raising the issue of migrant labourers, Yadav said that Nitish is accusing him of doing politics. What did the Bihar government do for them when I was away for two months?
"I am being accused of doing politics when I started raising the issue. Migrant workers coming to Bihar by train are dying of hunger during the journey. And, when I raise the issue, I am accused of doing politics. The police headquarters issues notice on migrant workers as if they are criminals. When I oppose this, I am accused of doing politics. Now Nitish Kumar will have to explain to the people if his real face was what people saw during the coronavirus crisis. People have lost faith in him. People have understood him well," said Yadav.
Asked why he was away from Bihar in times of crisis, Tejaswi said that he was in Delhi where most work is done. Moreover, there was no lockdown when he went to Delhi and then got trapped there. Nitish Kumar should explain why he did not come in the midst of the people.
Lots can be done if the government wishes
On the development of Bihar, Yadav said that the government lacks willpower else there are many things to do in Bihar like the opening of sugar mills and food processing units. If the government wishes a lot can be done here.
