Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav Ride Bullet Bike During Bihar Yatra; Tej Pratap Criticises

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav rode a bullet motorcycle during their ongoing Bihar Yatra on Sunday, drawing sharp criticism from sacked RJD MLA Tej Pratap Yadav and BJP leaders. The duo continues their 16-day "Voter Adhikar Yatra" in Bihar's Purnia, campaigning against alleged irregularities in the state's voter rolls.

Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Yadav were spotted riding motorcycles as the yatra reached Araria, where crowds lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the leaders. The 1,300-km yatra, which began on August 17 from Sasaram, is set to cover over 20 districts and conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1.

A joint press conference in Araria is planned for later, with leaders from the INDIA bloc, as reported by PTI. During a rally in Katihar on Saturday, Gandhi condemned "attempts to steal votes" in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections, accusing the BJP of closing opportunities for the poor since coming to power at the Centre.

Sacked RJD MLA Tej Pratap Yadav openly criticised his younger brother Tejashwi and Rahul Gandhi, questioning their connection with ordinary citizens. He said, "During elections, everyone is busy charting their own path. Tejashwi and Rahul are conducting their yatra, but we want to walk the small village pathways. We aim to be leaders connected to the ground. The people of Bihar already know who the real second Lalu is. We are grassroots leaders. We do not fly in helicopters. These leaders are travelling in air-conditioned cars and are not even shaking hands with the public. They call themselves people's leaders but are staying away from the common man."

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha criticised both leaders for allegedly disrespecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating, "While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are accelerating development, Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, who were born with golden spoons, are using derogatory words against the Prime Minister."

Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary also ridiculed the two leaders for their dynastic politics, saying, "These days, some princes are roaming around the state. Someone's father was Chief Minister for 15 years, someone's mother was also Chief Minister."

Commenting on Rahul Gandhi's yatra, Chaudhary added, "When his journey began, it was Lalu Prasad Yadav who went to flag it off in Sasaram, giving the green signal, and only then did Rahul Gandhi start his yatra."