'Nahi thumka lagaoge toh suspend kar diye jaoge': Tej Pratap instructs cop at Holi event, faces backlash; watch video

Tej Pratap Yadav, leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), marked Holi with party members at his official residence in Patna on Saturday. A video from the event has since gone viral, featuring Tej Pratap Yadav directing a policeman to dance during the festivities.

In the video, Tej Pratap Yadav, seated on a stage, can be heard telling the uniformed officer, "Ae sipahi, Deepak, ek gana bjayenge uspe tumko thumka lagana hai. Bura mat mano holi hai. Aaj nahi thumka lagaoge toh suspend kar diye jaoge. (Will play a song and you will have to dance, if you don’t dance, you will be suspended)." He further adds, "Bura mat maano Holi hai," before starting to sing a Holi song.



The incident took place at Yadav's residence in Patna. Tej Pratap Yadav is the elder son of Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi.

The video has led to criticism from political opponents. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla commented, "Like father, like son. First, the father (Lalu Yadav)- as the then CM used to make law dance to his tunes and turn Bihar into a jungle raj. Now, the son, despite being out of power, attempts to make laws and protectors of law dance to his tunes through threats and pressure. He threatens Police personnel with suspension if he doesn't dance. This shows that RJD believes in jungle raj. If they come to power even by mistake, they would violate law and make protectors of law dance. This is a trailer. So, it is important to keep them away from power."

JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad also reacted to the video. He said, "'Jungleraaj' has ended but Yuvraj of Lalu Yadav is threatening a policeman about the consequences if he (the policeman) will not comply with what he is instructing (to dance). Bihar has now changed. Be it Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav or any of the family members of Lalu Yadav - they need to understand that such acts have no place in the environment of this changing Bihar."

BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain also criticized Tej Pratap saying, "He asked his bodyguard to dance; otherwise, he would suspend him. He has no power and authority to suspend anyone. This is Nitish Kumar's 'Sushaasan', not Jungle Raj. Using such a language is unfortunate. RJD leaders have not evolved."

Not just the opposition but ally Congress also condemned Tej Pratap's actions. Congress leader Rashid Alvi said, "I condemn what he said. He is unaware that he does not have the power to suspend a person. It is unfortunate to say something like this to a policeman."

(With TOI inputs)