Tej Pratap Yadav visits ailing Rabri Devi amid Bihar security row
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Tej Pratap Yadav, son and political heir of RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav, on 6 June visited his mother and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi at the family's residence at 10 Circular Road, Patna, after learning she was unwell. The visit came as a political storm over the downgrading of the family's security cover continued to intensify in the state.
What Tej Pratap Said
Speaking to reporters outside the residence after meeting Rabri Devi, Tej Pratap firmly rejected claims that his mother had voluntarily surrendered the security personnel stationed at the property. He said the guards themselves had informed the family that their deployment orders had been cancelled.
'No one returned the security cover. The personnel themselves said their orders had been cancelled. My mother did not send them back,' Tej Pratap told reporters. He added that his primary purpose for visiting was to check on Rabri Devi's health, and that the family was closely monitoring her condition.
The Security Controversy
The visit unfolds against the backdrop of a heated dispute over the reported downgrading of Z-plus security cover previously assigned to Rabri Devi and Lalu Prasad Yadav following a government security review. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has strongly criticised the decision, alleging political bias. The Bihar government, however, maintains that security arrangements are determined by current threat assessments and constitutional positions — not political considerations.
Outside the 10 Circular Road residence, several RJD leaders and party workers were staging a sit-in protest at the time of Tej Pratap's arrival, reflecting the party's escalating anger over the issue.
Broader Security Concerns Raised
Tej Pratap also used the occasion to raise wider law-and-order concerns in the state. He argued that the Bihar government should prioritise the safety of women and girls across the state, urging the administration to take concrete steps to protect ordinary citizens.
Political Significance of the Visit
Political observers note that the visit carried both personal and symbolic weight — a public display of family solidarity at a moment when the Lalu family's security arrangements and the status of their official residence remain at the centre of Bihar's political discourse. The controversy surrounding 10 Circular Road has further amplified the dispute, with opposition leaders and party workers continuing to rally around the family. How the Bihar government responds to the RJD's escalating protests is expected to shape the next phase of the state's political narrative.