PATNA: Bihar Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav, who is Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad’s elder son, rode a horse from his parents’ home to his official residence to celebrate Christmas, drawing sharp criticism from opposition BJP.
Accompanied by a posse of security personnel and a trained jockey on another horse, Mr Yadav rode the half kilometre distance from his parents’ home at 10, Circular Road to his official residence at 5, Deshratna Marg yesterday.
“I enjoyed horse-riding which I have done after many years…I had been doing it regularly years ago,” Mr Yadav said.
Referring to growing air pollution in Patna and other towns in Bihar due to increasing vehicular traffic, he also listed the environmental benefits of horse-riding, saying it helps in containing pollution.
Tej Pratap holds Environment and Forest portfolio as well.
His ride drew sharp criticism from the Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar of BJP who said Tej Pratap was enjoying pleasure rides at a time when patients need improved facilities in hospitals which lacked infrastructure and medicines.
PTI