Pappu Yadav goes on hunger strike in Patna jail, vows to 'unmask the COVID mafia'

Protesting against his arrest,  Jan hikar Party (Loktantrik) chief Pappu Yav on Wednesday, declared that he would go on a hunger strike stating that his fight to unmask COVID mafia was on. He claimed that he was unable to sit down as he h undergone leg surgery and that re was no commode in his cell. Yav was arrested by Patna police for 'flouting COVID guidelines' on Tuesday.

Pappu Yav goes on hunger strike

Pappu Yav arrested

On Tuesday, Yav was accused of flouting novel coronavirus norms and was taken to Gandhi Maidan Police Station in Patna amid his vocal criticism of Bihar government over its handling of COVID-19 crisis. Speaking to media when he was being taken away, Yav said, "I tried to save Bihar. I don't know why I was arrested. You (reporters) should ask police and government why y have booked (me)". 

Explaining rationale for Yav's arrest, DSP Town, Suresh Pras stated, "He has been arrested for violation of lockdown. He was moving around in a vehicle without a permit. Legal action is being taken." Later Yav said that Nitish Kumar is 'under pressure' and pointed out to how he was helping local people in Bihar for oxygen cylinders, beds, COVID drugs etc.

Controversy over ambulances

Pappu Yav has been under spotlight after he raised issue of ambulances purchased from MPL fund of BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy in 2019. He lamented that 50 ambulances on premises of Vishwa Prabha Community Centre at Armour were not used at this juncture when y could be used for ferrying COVID-19 patients to hospitals. Moreover, he alleged that se ambulances were being used to transport sand inste. 

Denying allegations, Rudy claimed that ambulances were inoperational as drivers h stopped turning up owing to COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a complaint by Panchayat Ambulance Drivers' Coordinator Rajan Singh, police registered an FIR against JAP(L) president for making a forced entry on VPCC premises, damaging parked ambulances and misbehaving with staff. Taking umbrage at this development, Yav sought that a case should be lodged against Saran MP under Epidemic Act. He also presented 40 drivers whose services can be utilised to run ambulances.