Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly and RJD leader, has criticised the State government’s “inefficiency” in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. In an email interview, he said free rations and more cash incentives should be given to the poor until the lockdown is lifted. Excerpts.
Are you satisfied with the Bihar government’s efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the State?
The basic thing to fight against COVID-19 should be saving human lives as well as livelihoods. Bihar government appears far behind it as of today. Testing is among the lowest in the country with dilapidated medical infrastructure and there is absolutely no income support programme for the poor and working class.
Do you think number of COVID-19 positive cases in the State is very low and there should be more rapid tests to detect those infected?
Yes, absolutely. The numbers of positive cases are lower only because of conservatively low testing. With dense population of 12.3 crore, the risk of virus’s spread is very high in Bihar. Asymptomatic cases are surging and rapid testing will help in gauging the spread of contagion and breaking the transmission chain. Besides, all health experts have put focus on testing and more testing to defeat this invisible enemy.
Is it true that with its little health and medical facilities, the Bihar government feels helpless in detecting more COVID-19 positive cases?
I think, the real problem is lack of intent in the leadership. Should the government surrender just because it doesn’t have required ammunition? If a small and young State like Chhattisgarh can erect makeshift hospitals in record breaking time, why can’t Bihar? Had the government been proactively strategising in this lockdown buffer of almost 60 days, a lot could have been achieved at the medical infrastructure front.
But the Chief Minister has been holding marathon meetings with top officials to monitor the situation in the State...
What is the end result of these marathon meetings? The question remains why the Chief Minister remained incommunicado. Whilst other CMs are on the ground and briefing their people on a daily basis, Nitishji chose to speak after 18 days. The communication should transcend beyond the coterie too.
Do you think it helps poor people whom the government claims to have paid ₹1000 in their bank account?
Even a family of three persons can’t live for more than three days with ₹1000 during the lockdown. Everything is so costly. The government should ensure free ration and more cash incentives on a weekly basis with more transparency until the lockdown ceases. Every day we have been interacting with thousands migrants. Even this cash hasn’t been disbursed to 40-50% of the intended beneficiaries.
The government says about 1.8 lakh migrants have returned to the state yet? Do you subscribe this figure or it is much more than this?
From where and how did the govt. mine this? Did govt. facilitate their return? No, it didn’t, isn’t it? Has govt. screened, tested and quarantined 1.8 lakh migrants? There are more than a million stranded outside the State, desperately wanting to come back home. Why has the govt. abandoned them? The majority of them haven’t even been quarantined leave alone being tested. The government figures are few thousands who have been quarantined so far. There is huge gap between govt. claims. Media has reported how pathetic the conditions of quarantine and isolation centres are.
None from poor migrants who have returned from other States has yet tested positive COVID-19 positive? What’s your take on it?
It’s really unfortunate that poor migrants who have nothing to do with the virus are forced to bear the burden. The origin of this disease has been traced to people who travelled outside the country, contracted and brought it here. But you see rich and affluent people are given luxury treatment while our poor brothers and sisters are going through chaos and have devastating effects on their lives.
Unlike the U.P. government, the Bihar Chief Minister has refused to allow students from the State studying in Kota in Rajasthan to return...
The Bihar govt. has double standards and discriminatory policies on issue of Kota students. They give permission to bring back children of high and mighty like they issued pass to a State BJP MLA to bring back his ward but is not ready to bring children of common people. The government should compassionately consider bringing these students as well as the poor migrant labourers back home without any preferential treatment. However, they should be mandatorily screened, tested & quarantined.
You supported U.P. CM Yogi Adityanath’s move to bring back students from Kota but Bihar BJP leaders didn’t make any comment on it? Why?
U.P. CM sent buses to bring back people from his State stranded in Delhi NCR & Kota which ideally every government should be doing. I think BJP leaders from Bihar are tailgating Nitishji for the sake of power and hence the compulsive silence
JD(U) leaders have criticised you for being you’re out of State at this difficult time and say that you only do politics through social media?
Did anyone in the country know there will be total lockdown on March 24? Do you expect JD(U) leaders will praise me and my party for helping stranded migrants across the country with food, ration and money with help of local authorities, govts, our State units and personal contacts? No one can deny that being in opposition with limited resources, better team coordination, management and execution we have performed better than mighty resourceful Bihar govt. So they are defensive . And is it a crime to digitally help people using WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Smartphones, Helpline Numbers, Paytms and UPI? Every CM, CMO or even PM & PMO are using social media to alert, aware and assist their citizens. Bihar CM is a bygone orthodox person who doesn’t know how to use Social media so since beginning he and his party has a negative outlook about it.
Why are you not on the ground and looking after what is going on in the State?
Even before lockdown, Bihar govt. had cancelled my social programmes and didn’t give permission for meetings & gatherings. The government even cancelled our closed door meetings on March 14 & 15. They cancelled my scheduled movements on March 19 & 21. We have a huge mass support base and people know we are pro-poor party. If I move out govt. will accuse me of violating lockdown norms as there will be stampede sort of situation, expecting relief materials. Now let me ask, has the Chief Minister who has been entrusted with the job of governing the State walked out of his bungalow since March 18? Has he visited any hospital or hotspots for that matter?
This pandemic is also going to hit the farmers of the state in a big way?
The government should compensate the losses incurred by them, increase the MSP by 50% and waive off their bills and loan. It should roll out an exclusive stimulus package for farmers and migrant workers.
