Tejashwi, Tej Pratap booked for violating COVID-19 norms

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, his elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav, Jan Adhikar Party leader Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav have been booked in poll-bound Bihar for taking out rallies to protest against the contentious farm bills without permission and violating the COVID-19 protocol.

The three were booked on Friday along with 150 others and an FIR was lodged at the Kotwali police station on the basis of a complaint by the magistrate deputed to oversee the situation, the police said.

Several farmers organisations and opposition parties including RJD had held protests against the farm bills on Friday.

RJD heir apparent Tejashwi Prasad Yadav rode a tractor to lead the protest against the passage of the three farm bills on Friday. His elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav sat atop its hood.

A named FIR has been lodged against five persons including RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav, Jan Adhikar Party leader Pappu Yadav while 150 others have been made as unnamed accused. They have been booked for taking out protest march without having permission to do so, said Kotwali police station SHO Sunil Kumar.

These leaders and unnamed persons have also been booked for taking out a protest march on Baily road where any kind of protest is prohibited, the SHO said.

The FIR has been lodged under various sections of IPC and Disaster Management Act 2005.

Tejashwi Yadav, who is also the leader of opposition in the Bihar assembly, had on Friday termed the farm bills as anti farmer and aimed to privatise the agriculture sector".

The rally began at the 10 Circular Road residence of RJD leader Rabri Devi, who is Tejashwi Yadav's mother, and culminated at the party's office at Veer Chand Patel Path. It did not follow the social distancing norms.

The Information and Public Relations Department Minister and Janata Dal-United leader Neeraj Kumar meanwhile said that the people of the state want to know whether Tejashwi Yadav possesses a valid licence for driving a medium goods vehicle.

He also took a swipe at Tej Pratap for violating the Motor Vehicle Act by sitting atop the hood of the tractor.

The tractor that you (Tejashwi) drove is owned by one Krishna Rai jee. People of the state want to know whether you have a valid licence for driving medium goods vehicle. Your brother (Tej Pratap) sat atop the hood of the tractor and committed a crime by violating section 179 of the Motor Vehicle Act... Committing crimes is your political kusanskar (bad upbringing), Kumar said.

The Congress, Left parties, JAP and others had held bandh and protests across Bihar on Friday as part of the oppositions nationwide protest against the passage of farm bills.