“Life” fulfils Raghuwansh’s dream, PM to realise “remaining”

Law Kumar Mishra

Patna, September 13

Just three days before he breathe his last, Bihar political heavyweight

Raghuwansh Prasad Singh could fulfill his dream to quit the RJD while alive.

Now after his death, as the former union minister passed away Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi would cherish the vision Raghuwansh Singh has envisaged for Bihar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked the Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar to fulfill the “last wishes” of the former union minister, Raghuwansh Prasad Singh. He died of Corona in the ICU of New Delhi AIIMS earlier in the day.

Modi said a void has been created in politics of India and in Bihar.

Hurt for being cornered and humiliated by Lalu Prasad Yadav sons Tejashwi and Tejpratap, Raghuwansh rendered his resignation from RJD. He was the founder of the party with Lalu Yadav.

Raghuwansh allegedly signed the resignation from the ICU bed where he was admitted in a critical condition. The intention was clear; he wanted to leave RJD while he was alive. Lalu though refused it.

The latter that stirred the political cauldron in Bihar was full of criticism of Lalu style of working and had commented he found photos of five members of the same family on party posters and slogans. He was referring to Lalu, Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Tejashwi and Tejpratap.

He had alleged money was transacted in distribution of party tickets. Tejashwi Prasad  Yadav, paying his tributes said Raghuwansh babu was guardian of the family as Lalu Prasad was in jail. “It is a loss for the family,” he said.

While the RJD is likely to bear a huge political loss, the BJP has swung into action to reap the benefit.

While paying tributes to Raghuwansh Babu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the former union minister had development of his constituency in his mind till his death. Two days back, he wrote three letters to the chief minister from his hospital bed requesting measures for development of Vaishali and welfare of the poor.

The three last wishes of Raghuwansh Babu, according to the three letters written on September 10 from the hospital bed, included amendment through ordinance in the MGNREGA to allow jobs to common kisans, to bring the alms bowl (Bhiksha Patra) of Lord Budha from Kabul Museum (Afghanistan) to Vaishali and hoisting the national tricolour every year on Republic Day at Vaishali Garh–the oldest Republic of the world.

The veteran Socialist leader who was MP for four terms, MLA and MLC in Bihar is considered the architect of national rural employment guarantee scheme during Manmohan Singh ministry. He headed the rural development ministry in the UPA government.

Narendra Modi today recalled his contributions for the scheme and said as chief minister of Gujarat, he had interacted with Raghuwansh Babu several times on welfare projects. Modi said he would join hands in getting the last wishes of Raghuwansh Babu fulfilled. He directed the Chief Minister to take necessary action in this regard.

The former teacher of Mathematics was an activist in the JP movement and was appointed energy minister in 1977 by Karpoori Thakur. Later, he became chairman of the Bihar Legislative Council.   Though he was vice-president of RJD, he was recognised as an honest politician and remained untainted when all colleagues of Lalu were found involved in corruption cases.