Manjhi backs Bihar's security review, tells RJD to use proper channels
Synopsis
Bihar's ruling NDA has stripped Z-plus security from Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi following a State Security Committee review — and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has told the RJD to take its grievances through official channels, not protests. The RJD calls it a vendetta. The government calls it routine. The gap between those two positions is now a live political fault line in Bihar.
Key Takeaways
Bihar Home Department withdrew Z-plus security cover from RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and former CM Rabri Devi following a State Security Committee review on 4 June .
Y-category security of Tej Pratap Yadav , Lalu's elder son, was also reportedly discontinued.
Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi defended the decision, calling it within the government's jurisdiction and urging the RJD to raise concerns through proper channels.
The RJD has alleged the move is 'politically motivated' and amounts to vendetta against senior opposition leaders.
The dispute has intensified amid a separate controversy over the family's official residence at 10 Circular Road , Patna.
Union MSME Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday, 6 June defended the Bihar government's decision to withdraw 'Z-plus' security cover from Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, urging the opposition to raise its objections through official channels rather than street agitation.
What Manjhi Said
Speaking to reporters in Patna, Manjhi argued that security decisions fall squarely within the government's administrative authority. 'The government takes decisions keeping everyone's security in mind. Providing security and making changes to it are matters within the government's jurisdiction. If anyone has objections, they should respectfully place their concerns before the government. Launching an agitation over the issue is not appropriate,' he said.
The Security Review Order
The Bihar Home Department issued an order withdrawing the 'Z-plus' security category for both Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi following a review by the State Security Committee. According to the Bihar government, the decision was based on recommendations from the committee's meeting held on 4 June. The order also reportedly discontinued the 'Y' category security previously assigned to RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav.
RJD's Allegations
The RJD has sharply criticised the move, alleging that the reduction in security cover is 'politically motivated' and reflects a spirit of vendetta against senior opposition leaders. Party leaders have questioned the timing of the decision and argued that curtailing the protection of figures such as Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi sends the wrong message. The controversy has been further amplified by the ongoing dispute over the family's official residence at 10 Circular Road, where opposition leaders and party workers have staged protests.
Government's Position
The state government has maintained that the changes are purely administrative, grounded in the official security review mechanism and not driven by political considerations. This framing directly contradicts the RJD's narrative, making the security withdrawal one of the sharpest flashpoints in Bihar politics in recent weeks.
Broader Political Context
The episode comes at a time when the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar and the RJD-led opposition are engaged in sustained political friction ahead of future electoral cycles. Notably, security review decisions for VIP protectees are routine administrative exercises, but their timing and targets frequently invite political scrutiny. With both sides presenting contrasting narratives, the dispute is unlikely to fade quickly — and the RJD's next move, whether through formal representation or continued public protest, will set the tone for this standoff.
Point of View
Coming amid the 10 Circular Road residence dispute, hands the RJD a readymade narrative of persecution that it will use effectively on the ground. Manjhi's counsel to 'use proper channels' is politically safe but sidesteps the real question: whether the State Security Committee's review was triggered by a genuine threat reassessment or by a change in political temperature. Until the government publishes the threat-assessment basis for the downgrade, the 'routine review' defence will remain unconvincing to anyone outside the NDA coalition.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Z-plus security withdrawn from Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi?
The Bihar Home Department withdrew Z-plus security from Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi on the recommendations of the State Security Committee, which met on 4 June. The state government has said the decision is purely administrative and based on the official security review mechanism.
What did Jitan Ram Manjhi say about the security withdrawal?
Union MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi defended the Bihar government's decision, stating that security matters fall within the government's jurisdiction. He urged the RJD to place its concerns before the government through proper channels rather than launching public agitations.
Why is the RJD opposing the security review decision?
The RJD has alleged that the reduction in security cover is politically motivated and reflects a spirit of vendetta against senior opposition leaders. Party leaders have also questioned the timing of the decision, which coincides with a dispute over the family's official residence at 10 Circular Road in Patna.
Was Tej Pratap Yadav's security also affected?
According to reports, the order also discontinued the Y-category security previously provided to Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav.
What is the 10 Circular Road controversy linked to this issue?
10 Circular Road in Patna is the official residence associated with the Lalu Prasad Yadav family, and a separate dispute over its status has become intertwined with the security withdrawal row. Opposition leaders and RJD workers have gathered there to protest, amplifying the overall political controversy.
