BJP and JD(U) React Sharply to RJD's Election Promises

Strategic Insights -

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) have strongly criticized RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav's latest statements, promising to double panchayat representatives' honorarium, provide pensions with insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh to former panchayat members, and overturn the Waqf (Amendment) Act if his government comes to power after the assembly elections on November 6 and 11. The BJP and JD(U) leaders accused Tejashwi and the RJD of misleading the people of Bihar and attempting to seize and use Waqf properties.

Key Takeaways:

  • BJP national spokesman R P Singh stated that the Waqf Amendment Bill passed by Parliament is now an Act and the state has no role in it, contradicting RJD's claims.
  • Qari Shoaib, an RJD MLA, had earlier said that those who supported the Bill must be punished, but the BJP said this was an attempt to intimidate people.
  • JD(U) spokesman Neeraj Kumar questioned RJD's role in the Waqf properties, pointing out that the party had been involved in misusing them during Lalu Prasad's regime.
  • Tejashwi's promises on panchayat benefits were dismissed as unrealistic and election-driven, with JD(U) leaders pointing out the RJD's history of corruption.
  • BJP leaders accused Tejashwi of attempting to mislead the Muslim community by using triple talaq and Waqf as election issues.

Statistics:

  • The Waqf Amendment Bill was passed by Parliament, making it an Act that cannot be changed by the state.
  • The total budget of Bihar for 2022-23 is Rs 2.53 lakh crore (Times of India doesn't mention the specific context of the budget).
  • The insurance cover provided by the RJD's pension scheme is Rs 50 lakh.

Sources:

  • "R P Singh, BJP national spokesman"
  • "Nikhil Anand, National General Secretary, BJP OBC Morcha"
  • "Neeraj Kumar, JD(U) spokesman and MLC"
  • "Samrat Choudhary, Deputy CM"
  • "Sanjay Kumar Jha, JD(U) national working president"
  • "Arvind Nishad, JD(U) state spokesman"
  • "Prashant Kishor, Jan Suraaj"
  • Times of India (but no date or timestamp provided in the source)