"If 2 Crore Fry Pakodas, Who'll Eat Them?" Tejashwi Yadav's Jibe At PM

Tejashwi Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Lalu Yadav's political heir, has expressed serious concerns about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's suggestion that selling pakodas (fritters) was also a form of employment and amped up his attack on the ruling NDA government for what he claimed as its unfulfilled promises.

The 28-year-old RJD leader, who has been leading the party ever since his father was sent to jail earlier this year for his involvement in four corruption cases, asked questions around job creation by the government, the return of black money and the promised "Rs 15 lakh in every Indian's bank account" at the NDTV Yuva, a special youth conclave held on Sunday in Delhi.

"Modiji promised two crore jobs every year, but now he says fry pakodas," Mr Yadav told the audience. "We say okay, we are ready, but could you at least give us Rs 1-2 lakh of the Rs 15 lakh you promised so we can set up a thela? But he's not ready."

"Anyway, the question is if two crore people start frying pakodas, who will eat them?" he said.

The former deputy chief minister of Bihar also referred to BJP president Amit Shah's recent remark that "the BJP will rule for at least 50 years" to quip that under the present regime, the country may not have an election again. He stressed that a united opposition is key to keeping the BJP at bay and to prevent the country from becoming an autocracy.

"They want to end reservation. There is a possibility that if Modiji is picked again, India will never again have an election," he said.

Mr Yadav, however, reserved the bulk of his barbs for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who he frequently accuses of "betraying" his father.

Nitish Kumar had ended the alliance in July 2017, a few weeks after the CBI filed the case naming Tejashwi Yadav. Soon Mr Kumar partnered with the BJP to form a new government in the state.

"We thought Nitishji had understood his mistake (on allying with the BJP to win power in Bihar) and we decided to support him. We did not doubt him. But then he flipped," said Mr Yadav.

The RJD leader said he was firm in his resolve to never partner with Mr Kumar's Janata Dal (United) again. "Nitishji doesn't have any credibility. A person who can give four governments in four years, a man who loves his chair more than the people, how can we go with him again?" he asked, referring to recent reports that the Bihar chief minister was willing to join forces with the RJD again.

"My father supported Nitishji even though he launched cases against him. Maybe I don't have a large heart like his," added Mr Kumar.

Mr Yadav, however, did not seem to have any issues with election strategist Prashant Kishor joining the JD(U) earlier today. "I welcome him. More people should take up politics," he said.