Lalu Claims India’s Crisis Worse Than Emergency
RJD leader joins Rahul Gandhi’s voter rights march.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government, declaring that the current state of the nation is “worse than the Emergency” of 1975–77. Speaking to reporters in Patna before departing for Sasaram to join Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra,’ Prasad framed the upcoming 1,300-km march as a critical fight to protect democracy and the Constitution.
“We are battling a situation more dire than the Emergency,” said Prasad, accompanied by his son and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. “It’s heartening that Rahul Gandhi is with us in this struggle.” The yatra, launched from BIADA Ground in Sasaram, Rohtas district, aims to rally public support against alleged voter suppression by the BJP and its allies ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, just three months away. Covering over 20 districts, the 16-day march will culminate in a grand rally in Patna on September 1.
Tejashwi Yadav echoed his father’s sentiments, emphasizing the constitutional right to vote. “The BJP is trying to snatch away this fundamental right, but we won’t let that happen. We’re confident the people of Bihar will bless this yatra,” he said. The Mahagathbandhan coalition, including RJD, Congress, and other partners, is leveraging the yatra to mobilize voters and highlight claims of electoral manipulation, particularly targeting marginalized communities.
Also Read: Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra to Stop Vote Theft
The Emergency, declared by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975, and lifted on March 21, 1977, remains a dark chapter in India’s history, marked by civil liberties restrictions. Prasad’s comparison underscores the gravity of his accusations against the current government, alleging a systematic erosion of democratic principles. The yatra, blending foot marches and vehicle travel, mirrors Gandhi’s earlier Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and seeks to galvanize public support in a state critical to the opposition’s electoral strategy.
As the coalition intensifies its campaign, the yatra’s route through districts like Aurangabad, Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Purnea aims to connect with rural and urban voters alike. With Bihar’s political landscape heating up, Prasad and Yadav’s fiery rhetoric signals a high-stakes battle to protect voter rights and challenge the BJP’s dominance.
Also Read: Bihar Deputy CM Faces Voter Fraud Scandal
