Lalu Yadav, Rabri Devi Get Z-Category Security Cover from Bihar Government

The Bihar government has granted Z-category security cover to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, reversing a decision taken about a month ago to downgrade their security. The couple has also been allotted bulletproof vehicles.

The latest decision comes weeks after the state government reduced the security cover of the two senior RJD leaders following a review of their threat perception, triggering a political confrontation between the ruling NDA and the opposition.

Following the downgrade, Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi returned the government security personnel assigned to them as a mark of protest. The RJD accused the Bihar government of targeting opposition leaders and attempting to diminish their political standing by cutting their security cover.

Rejecting the allegations, the state government had said the revision was part of a routine security review conducted on the basis of intelligence inputs and threat assessment, with no political considerations involved.

RJD leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, had also returned his government-provided security personnel in support of his parents. However, officials clarified that his security category had not been altered.

The decision to restore Z-category security coincides with Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi moving into their privately owned residence in Patna.

On Thursday, Rabri Devi vacated the government bungalow at 10, Circular Road, ending a nearly two-decade stay at the residence, which also functioned as the RJD’s camp office. She had retained the bungalow in her capacity as a former chief minister.

She was directed to vacate the premises in November last year after being allotted a different government residence during a housing reshuffle undertaken to accommodate newly inducted ministers.

State officials had then explained that, as the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council, Rabri Devi was entitled to accommodation under a different housing category.