RJD seeks relaxed jail norms for visiting Lalu Prasad

RANCHI: RJD functionaries sought on Monday relaxation of rules to meet their party chief Lalu Prasad at the Birsa Munda Central jail in Ranchi. Party workers from Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh had to return as authorities said three people would be allowed to meet Lalu every week.
Four RJD members — the party's state president Annapurna Devi, former minister Awadh Bihari Chaudhary, MLA Bhola Yadav and MLC Ranvijay Singh — were allowed to meet Lalu, apart from his counsel Chitranjan Prasad.

A special court of the CBI will decide on the quantum of punishment for Lalu on January 3.

The jail administration has started maintaining a log noting down names of RJD workers who would like to meet Lalu. As many as 50 people registered their names for meeting Lalu till Monday noon. Lalu would go through the register every evening and decide who he would meet during the week.

"Doctors have assured us of his health parameters. He has appealed to party workers to maintain peace. The jail administration is in no mood to relax rules to allow more visitors," Annapurna Devi said.

Devi accused the Jharkhand government of being partial in implementing rules. "We will talk to the state government for relaxation of the rules. Laluji is not an extremist. His relatives should be allowed to meet him daily," the RJD leader said.

Bhola Yadav said, "Laluji is sad that he is unable to meet his supporters and his family members. He is not a common prisoner and special arrangements should be made for his meeting with party workers."

Jail superintendent A K Choudhary said, "We are maintaining a log to record the names of visitors daily. There would be no need for people to gather outside the jail. Lalu Prasad is free to decide who he would meet."