Bihar: Lalu Warns People of Looming Effects of Farm Laws, Slams Rise in Mustard oil Price

Patna: Ahead of Diwali and the popular Chhath festival in Bihar, opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Monday targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government over the rising price of mustard oil and warned people that the actual effect of three black farm laws would be visible in the coming years.

Sensing a deep silence of people specifically over the rising price of mustard oil and the inflation in general, Lalu, known as a stern critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has put the issue to the fore. In a move to reach out to people, Lalu, on November 1, asked them on Twitter, “What is the price of mustard oil? Are you happy with it?” This is widely seen here as part of his campaign to muster opposition to the rising prices of edible items and petrol and diesel.

सरसों के तेल का क्या भाव है?
क्या आप इससे खुश है?

रुकिए, तीन काले कृषि क़ानूनों का विपरीत प्रभाव अभी दो-चार वर्षों बाद और अधिक समझ में आएगा। pic.twitter.com/ihuRLngIEF

— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) November 1, 2021

Lalu further added in his own style, saying, “Wait, the opposite effect of three black farm laws will be more understandable after two-four years.”

Returning to Bihar almost three-and-a-half years after getting bail in the fodder scam cases, Lalu has been targeting the BJP and its ally, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, on different issues such as unemployment and inflation.

Lalu has attacked the central farm laws a day before the result of the bypolls for two assembly seats, held last week in the state, is announced. His move seems to be sending a political message that his party will continue to oppose the farm laws. More than others, Lalu knew it well to spread words over inflation as thousands of migrant workers returned to their native villages across Bihar during Chhath to celebrate the festival post-Diwali.

This is not the first time that Lalu has slammed the BJP-led NDA government over growing inflation. Last month, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief taunted the ruling parties when he said the government was robbing people shamelessly as the rate of LPG, edible oil, petrol and diesel continued to rise in the country.

Lalu’s RJD has been protesting against the continuous price rise. In July, thousands of party workers and supporters took to the streets across Bihar to protest against the price rise. They shouted slogans against the central government’s failure in controlling the soaring prices that have badly affected the people.

During campaigning for the bypolls last week, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who is also the Leader of the Opposition, spoke against the unprecedented price rise. Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the rising inflation, Tejashwi said, “People across the country have been crying under the burden of price rise of essential commodities, but the government has been behaving differently.”

He went on to add that even though the sky-high prices of commodities were hitting all, including the middle class, the brunt was mainly being borne by the lower middle class and the poorest of the poor, including those living below the poverty line. He also expressed grave concern over the inflation’s effect on those rendered jobless during the COVID-19 pandemic and people hit by a drastic decline in the GDP.