Oxford University Professor Praises Corruption-Tainted Lalu Yadav As 'Transformative Politician', Netizens Ask If It Is Sarcasm

An Oxford University professor, Nikita Sud, sparked a social media uproar on Sunday (11 June) after praising Lalu Yadav, the former chief minister of Bihar, who is currently out on bail on medical grounds amidst corruption charges.

Sud claimed that Yadav was "one of the most transformative politicians India has ever seen" despite his recent imprisonment in multiple corruption cases.

Sud further stated that Yadav deserved gratitude and affection for his unwavering commitment to secularism and his efforts in forging progressive alliances at the national level. She also alleged that his adversaries recognised his significance, which was why he was continuously embroiled in legal battles and confined to jail.

Twitter users responded with a mix of outrage and amusement, questioning the professor's assertions. Some speculated whether her remarks were intended sarcastically, while others expressed their skepticism with sarcastic comments of their own.

One user facetiously pointed to the transformation in Bihar during Yadav's tenure as chief minister, sarcastically referring to improved living standards, access to basic amenities, industrial growth, and effective law and order.

Sud faced further criticism, with suggestions that she should relocate and experience firsthand the supposed benefits of Yadav's policies by living in Bihar. Twitter users recommended she migrate and enjoy the largesse resulting from his governance, while others questioned why she did not already reside in Darbhanga, a city in Bihar.

When confronted by certain Twitter users about her admiration for a politician involved in a scam and currently serving a jail term, the professor referred to him as a "Brahmin/upper-caste" individual who is "oblivious to development as dignity."

Experts widely agree that during the 15-year rule of Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi's governments from 1990 to 2005, Bihar experienced a state of lawlessness, rampant anarchy, and unabashed political patronage of criminal syndicates.

This period, commonly referred to as the "jungle raj" phase, left an indelible impact on both rural and urban areas of Bihar.

Lalu Yadav's political rhetoric often dismissed development, governance, and law and order as concerns exclusive to the upper caste, labeling them as elitist aspirations. He even alleged that the corruption cases leading to his current incarceration were orchestrated by the upper caste.