Patna, June 17: The Bihar State Commission for Scheduled Castes has issued a notice to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav for allegedly disrespecting Dalit icon Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, after a video of his birthday celebration went viral, sparking political backlash.
The Commission has given the former Bihar chief minister 15 days to respond, warning that failure to do so could lead to legal action under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, a senior official said on Monday.
“The Commission has sought a written explanation. If there is no response, further legal steps will be taken,” Devendra Kumar, Vice Chairman of the Commission, told PTI.
The controversy erupted over a video purportedly recorded during Lalu Prasad’s 78th birthday celebration earlier this week. In the clip, the ailing politician is seen reclining on a sofa while a supporter places a portrait of Ambedkar near his feet before offering greetings. The video triggered sharp criticism from political opponents, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
At a press conference on Saturday, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and former BJP state president played the video, accusing Lalu Prasad of insulting the Dalit icon. On Sunday, BJP workers staged a protest in Patna and burned an effigy of the RJD chief.
Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly and Lalu Prasad’s son, dismissed the move as politically motivated.
“There have been so many real atrocities against Dalits that the Commission ignored. But since we oppose the BJP, we are being targeted,” Yadav told reporters. He also alleged that the Commission’s notice was riddled with grammatical errors and had been withdrawn twice for corrections.
“We haven’t officially received the notice yet. Once the Commission finishes drafting it properly and dispatches it formally, we will respond accordingly,” he added.
Yadav further accused the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of using state commissions to reward political allies and relatives ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
“In the recently formed commissions, relatives of top NDA leaders, including from JD(U), have been given posts. Competent individuals across Bihar have been overlooked,” he said. He also claimed that wives of retired bureaucrats close to the chief minister had been appointed to key positions, while their children were running consultancy firms working with government departments.
“Frankly speaking, the unconscious Chief Minister and his NDA allies have created what I would call a ‘Jamai Commission’—where sons-in-law, relatives, and children of alliance leaders are being handed posts,” he said. The escalating row comes amid heightened political tensions in Bihar, with state assembly elections expected in the coming months.
