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“Doesn’t even know national anthem”- RJD slams Bihar education minister over video

The newly setup government of Nitish Kumar has been slammed by the major opposition party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, for appointing Mewalal Chaudhary in the cabinet, a man who doesn’t even know the national anthem of the country he serves.

The remarks came after a video of the recently appointed Education Minister was posted by the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led party on Twitter.

In the viral video, Mewalal Chaudhary is seen at a flag-hoisting ceremony, struggling to sing the national anthem correctly. Many of his lines are incorrect in the video. Instead of “Vindhya Himachal Yamuna Ganga Ucchaljaladhitiranga”, the minister can be heard singing, “Vindhya Himachal Yaye Ganga Uchalalala”. Unable to complete the rest of the song, he ends it with “Jaya Ho”.

After that, Mr. Chaudhary in the 38-second clip, says “Bharat Mata ki” with the children following it with “Jai” and “Vande” while the kids said, “Mataram”.

The minister, who is already facing charges for corruption during his tenure in the Bihar Agriculture University in 2017 had a group of children and a few adults surrounding him while he sang the national anthem and hoisted the Indian flag. However, the video is undated.

The opposition took this golden opportunity to slam the Chief Minister.

“Bihar’s Education Minister Mevalal Chaudhary, who is accused in several corruption cases, doesn’t even know the national anthem. Nitish Kumar ji, do you have any shame left? Where did you drown your conscience?,” read RJD’s tweet when translated from Hindi.

The 67 year old education minister was suspended in 2017 during his term in Nitish Kumar’s JDU following a case of alleged irregularities in appointing people in certain posts. Mewalal Chaudhary, at the time, was serving as the Vice Chancellor in Bihar Agriculture University situated in Bhagalpur district.

Evidently, Mr. Chaudhary has since then denied any role in the cases and went ahead to dismiss the accusations calling them “baseless”. The minister was charged for being corrupt in construction works and for creating irregularities in appointments for the positions of junior scientist and assistant professor.

Speaking to NDTV after the agency said that his election affidavit mentioned a corruption case registered against him, Mr. Chaudhary said, “No. Never. I have not written anything (about corruption in my election affidavit). I don’t know where you get this information. I am the informer, I know. No one is above the law and a case is pending in the court. Not even a chargesheet has been filed. The probe is ongoing. Nothing has happened,”

Tejaswi Yadav, son of the President of RJD, accused Nitish Kumar for appointing “criminals” in his cabinet in order to remain in power in Bihar, “Power is protecting criminals”.

The 31 year old posted the accusations in a thread of tweets on the social media platform used by politicians and authorities often to speak on various matters.

In the tweets, he said that Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar has “granted exemption to” various criminal activities like “loot and robbery by appointing Mewalal Chaudhary”. He claimed that the steps being taken by the CM are to safeguard his “chair” with adoption of “crime, corruption and communalism”. Mr. Yadav also lashed out the government for not appointing any person from the minority communities as a minister in his government.