The Rediff Interview /Pappu Yadav
'Political savvy is one thing but murders for the sake of clinging to power is quite another'
Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav was a prominent member of the Janata Dal in Bihar till he fell afoul of Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav. When Tara Shankar Sahay met Pappu Yadav, the Samajwadi Party leader swore he would end Laloo Yadav's "dictatorship". Excerpts from an interview:
Laloo Yadav was your friend, but now you are campaigning to oust him from the Bihar chief ministership.
Arre, wo ghatiya aadmi hai (oh, he is
a dirty person). He preaches social justice, but it is just thinly-veiled
self-interest. He is selfish in the extreme. He has low cunning
and has used the social justice card to rise to power. Those of
us who have seen through him told him that it could not be tolerated.
When he ignored our warnings, a few of us left. But there are
numerous others whom he has cowed down through sheer bullying
and terror. Lekin hum usko dhool chatayenge (but we will
make him bite the dust).
The press in Bihar says you parted company
with Laloo Yadav because of ego hassles.
Ye bakwas hai. Jo party mein lagan se kam karta hai usey Laloo
Yadav naukar samajhta hai (That is nonsense. Laloo Yadav treats sincere party workers like servants). When I realised
this, I made my displeasure known and quit. I have nothing but
contempt for him.
What do you think about the fodder scam?
I think no differently from the rest of the people:
Laloo Yadav is involved and that is why he is trying to avoid
prosecution.
But he still enjoys considerable support in Bihar.
He had that kind of support before, but not now. If
other parties, including the Samajwadi Party, have made inroads
into Laloo's political territory, he has himself to blame...
Laloo's passion for dictatorship, for complete control without a murmur of opposition,
is a reality. Those of us who had the guts to tell him so on his
face did so and quit the Janata Dal... There are many
others who want to part company but are afraid to do so, because
Laloo keeps threatening them with dire consequences.
But despite all this, the chief minister has still
marshalled many supporters in the Bihar unit of the Janata Dal?
They are all people who have been lured by Laloo
with promises of position and power. Whether it is a place in
his cabinet or party posts, Laloo dangles it in front of partymen.
Mind you, there are always strings attached. He demands unquestioned
obedience and loyalty. Some partymen are lured in. After that they become
mere tools in Laloo's hands. He treats them like dirt. All
these are the hallmarks of a bully and a coward.
How do you see Laloo's position now?
Let me draw your attention to the mysterious murders
of crucial witnesses in the fodder scam. You have to see who benefits
from this. Political savvy is one thing but murders for the sake
of clinging to power is quite another. When nemesis tends to catch up
with you, this is what happens. But democracy will trample dictatorship,
you will see.
Why don't you straightaway refer to Laloo Yadav
instead of resorting to innuendo?
Do you think I am referring to a ghost? Laloo's days
of chicanery are over and, despite his efforts, he is fast approaching
oblivion.
What if he bounces back into the political reckoning?
That is unlikely. The way Laloo conducts himself
is bound to ensure his self-destruction and political suicide.
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