Patna, February 17 The LJP(RV) on Tuesday demanded a public apology from Tejashwi Yadav in the Bihar Assembly over his party, the RJD's, alleged insult of the late Ram Vilas Paswan, a former Union minister.
RJD's Bodh Gaya MLA, Kumar Sarvjeet, had last week described the late Ram Vilas Paswan, the founder of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), as a "pitiful" figure in the context of his political journey.
Sarvjeet had then urged the Speaker to ensure the installation of a statue of Paswan at a prominent intersection in Patna to highlight his contributions to Bihar politics.
Speaking to reporters outside the assembly, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) state president, Raju Tiwari, said, "We demand that Tejashwi Yadav, as the leader of the RJD in the legislature, apologize publicly in the House over these remarks. His leader has insulted a great man who had a 50-year unblemished political career and had worked with six prime ministers."
In response to being pointed out that Sarvjeet had also demanded the installation of Ram Vilas Paswan's statue in Bihar, Tiwari said, "They should stop changing colours like a chameleon. They should first apologize for the insult to Ram Vilas Paswan ji. We will then definitely deliberate upon installing a statue in his name."
Sarvjeet, on the other hand, alleged that Tiwari was unable to accept his demand for the statue of Paswan, whom he called a "Dalit icon."
"Raju Tiwari is not able to accept the fact that a demand has been raised for the installation of a statue of an icon, who has been a messiah for Dalits in Bihar and has worked for the poor people belonging to all castes and religions," Sarvjeet claimed.
On the issue of apology, he said that Raju Tiwari will have to "take seven births" to make him agree to the demand for the installation of Ram Vilas Paswan's statue.
