EDITORIAL :

Bihar: Awaiting Rabri Devi’s resignation

Bihar has become the testing ground of experiments in social engineering, application of political technology and caste-sub-caste interaction in the explosive background of agrarian exploitation and violence. Opportunism of the political parties in the country also finds eloquent expression in the corridors of power in Patna, the city unbecoming of the great heritage of ancient Pataliputra.

The drama of the absurd in Bihar has entered another scene with the CBI court issuing non-bailable warrants against RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav and his chief minister wife Rabri Devi in the disproportionate assets case. This should have been reason enough for chief minister Rabri Devi to put in her papers. But, she did not do that and neither would Laloo Prasad let her do that. This is not only the tragedy in Bihar but a tragedy for the nation as well in so far as its political culture is concerned. What is shocking is that chief minister Rabri Devi did not feel it necessary to resign even after she was granted bail by a special CBI court and that too after furnishing two bonds of Rs two lakh each. Her husband, Laloo Yadav, of course, has been sent to jail by the court.

It is also pertinent to remember that Rabri Devi first became chief minister when her husband had to resign following his chargesheeting and arrest by the CBI in the fodder scam case. It is only natural to now see the NDA, including the CPI and the CPI (ML), making a strident demand for her immediate resignation from chief ministership. But the ruling RJD has turned down this demand by saying that if home minister Lal Krishna Advani and HRD minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi can continue even after being chargesheeted in the Babri Masjid demolition case, where is the need of Rabri Devi to quit? This argument hardly holds good although the same view is held by the RJD’s alliance partner, CPI(M). Of course, the major coalition partner of the RJD, the Congress, has declined to comment on the developments except to say that the law should take its own course and that the party would decide only after examining the charges.

The demand for Rabri Devi’s resignation and in case of her refusal to do so, her dismissal by the governor, is growing. The NDA has announced an agitational programme which includes a one-day bandh.

Politics of blatant opportunism characterises the Bihar scene today. The leading Leftist party, the CPI(M) has given proof of unabashed opportunism by rejecting the demand for Rabri Devi’s resignation. Of course, this is not the solitary instance of CPI(M)’s capitulation to votaries of corruption as the party is in good company of Jayalalitha’s AIADMK in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. The Congress and the TMC are also in alliance with the AIADMK there. The CPI is also a camp follower of the corrupt AIADMK there although it has chosen a different course in Bihar by opposing the RJD.

In the present case Laloo Prasad has been chargesheeted for amassing wealth/assets worth Rs 42.52 lakh disproportionate with his known sources of income between 1990 and 1996 when he was the chief minister, while his wife Rabri Devi has been charged with abetting the offence and has been made co-accused.

Confronted with such an adverse situation, Laloo Prasad Yadav has attempted to go on a political offensive against the BJP leadership for following a double standard by retaining the chargesheeted ministers at the centre while demanding ouster of chargesheeted Rabri Devi. However, this offensive posture may not be able to bail out Rabri Devi if she continues to occupy the hot seat.