Tejashwi Yadav. File Photo
By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Tejashwi Yadav has been granted bail in a six-year-old case by a special MP/MLA court in Patna. The opposition leader appeared before the court on Thursday, where he surrendered and sought bail.
The hearing took place in the court of Special Judge Praveen Kumar Malviya, who accepted Yadav’s plea and granted him bail.
Speaking to reporters after stepping out of the court, Yadav claimed that the case had been “forcibly” filed against him during the Covid-19 pandemic. He said the action was taken by the administration because he had organised protests highlighting public grievances at the time.
“During the Covid period, cases were forcibly registered against me. As a public representative, we held protests to raise people’s issues. This case stems from those actions,” he said.
Yadav described the pandemic as an extremely difficult period for both the country and Bihar. He pointed out that a large number of migrant workers were forced to return to the state on foot from other parts of India, often facing accidents and severe hardship along the way.
He alleged that the government and administration had failed to make adequate arrangements for these migrant workers. According to him, the lack of proper train and transport services left thousands with no option but to walk long distances to reach their homes.
The Leader of the Opposition said he and his party had raised concerns about the plight of labourers, the poor, and ordinary citizens. As part of this effort, they organised protests and demonstrations to draw attention to the situation.
“This is not a new case, but an old one. Workers were in a miserable condition and were forced to walk hundreds of kilometres. There were reports of deaths from several places. At such a time, it was the responsibility of the opposition to raise people’s voices before the government,” Yadav said.
Criticising the state government and administration, he added that taking action against leaders who raise public concerns goes against democratic principles. He asserted that the opposition would continue to speak out for people’s rights and basic facilities.
The case dates back to the Covid-19 lockdown period, when several political parties in Bihar staged protests over issues such as restrictions and the migrant worker crisis. At the time, the administration had registered multiple FIRs for alleged violations of Covid guidelines and other charges. Yadav’s remarks come in this context.
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