1, Anne Marg: Rabri gets second eviction notice

The Bihar building construction department, in a notice dated December 13, states that Rabri has to vacate 1, Anne Marg, within seven days or face forcible eviction. ‘‘Aapko ye chetawanee dee jaatee hai kee, upar likhit awadhee ke bhitar ukt parisar ko khalee naa karte hain to use jabardastee bedakhal kar diye jaane ke bhaagi honge (You are warned that if you don’t vacate the residence in the above-mentioned period, you may be forcibly evicted).’’ The Yadav couple’s hesitation in moving out is being attributed to two factors. The first, according to sources close to them, was the inauspicious period running, which would be over on January 14. The other—which Laloo himself has put forth—is non-completion of renovation work at the house allotted to Rabri. The guided tour of TV journos today was to show that the work was incomplete.

But it’s probably the first reason which is holding back the duo from vacating the house which had been theirs for 15 years. The ‘‘kharmas’’ as the inauspicious period is referred to here, will end by mid-January, and they are not ready to shift till then. Laloo did not mention this reason. But his lieutenants referred to it and warned of dire consequences if their leaders were evicted forcibly before January 14.

Laloo told the journalists that the notice was an act of ‘‘political vendetta’’ by the Nitish government. He said, ‘‘Are these words you use for a former CM who is a woman? How can she vacate it when renovation of the allotted house is not over?’’

The boundary walls are being raised to meet Laloo’s Z-plus security cover at 10, Circular Road, once occupied by Laloo’s brother-in-law and Sadhu Yadav who had christened it ‘‘10-Janpath’’. ‘‘We can move only after completion of the work here,’’ Laloo said.

Yesterday, Nitish, when asked about his shifting to 1, Anne Marg, had said, ‘‘It is sad that people here have to be asked to vacate. In Delhi and other states, leaders vacate it themselves.’’