Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav marked International Labour Day with a sharp critique of the central government and Bihar’s ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), alleging that policies over the past two decades have driven large-scale migration and left workers vulnerable across the country.
Extending greetings to workers on Thursday, Yadav said labourers had made a “significant contribution” to nation-building but claimed there was insufficient focus on their welfare and socio-economic upliftment. He argued that discussions around a “developed India” were incomplete without addressing the condition of workers, their families and rural communities.
Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition in Bihar, said migration from the state remained a persistent issue, alleging that “millions” had been forced to leave Bihar over the past 21 years in search of employment. He blamed the NDA government’s long tenure in the state for what he described as a continuing employment crisis.
अपनी निष्ठा, समर्पण, सेवा भाव व पसीने से देश निर्माण में अतुलनीय योगदान देने वाले श्रमवीरों को “अंतरराष्ट्रीय श्रमिक दिवस” की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं।
देश के विकास की नींव रख उसे प्रगति पथ पर ले जाने वाले श्रमिक भाइयों के उत्थान और बेहतरी पर सकारात्मक चर्चा का अभाव पीड़ादायक है।… pic.twitter.com/XeVYRO9Q1Y
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) May 1, 2026
He further alleged that migrant workers from Bihar often faced hostility in other states, including instances of violence and verbal abuse, though he did not cite specific cases.
Referring to past policy decisions such as demonetisation and the COVID-19 lockdown, Yadav said these had disproportionately affected migrant labourers, many of whom were forced to return to their home states during the crisis period.
He also claimed that a renewed economic strain, linked to rising household fuel costs, was prompting workers to return to Bihar, while the state government had not made adequate arrangements for employment opportunities.
In a lighter but pointed remark, Yadav suggested that BJP leaders, “known for renaming initiatives”, should consider renaming Labour Day as “Bihar Dedicated Day”, arguing that the state remained a major supplier of labour while lagging in industrial development.
He added that if migration from Bihar were to stop, industries in other states would also feel the impact, and called for collective efforts to improve employment conditions within the state.
