Tejashwi barred from meeting Lalu after late arrival

Ranchi: RJD working president Tejashwi Yadav was refused permission to meet his ailing father and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad on Saturday as he reached Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) after 5pm.
After failing to persuade the security officer on duty at Rims, where the incarcerated RJD chief is undergoing treatment, Tejashwi sought permission to meet his father on Sunday morning and left. Tejashwi was in Palamu earlier in the day to attend an RJD election rally.

When Tejashwi pointed out that there is a provision in the jail manual for special permission to family members, the officer asked the RJD leader to talk to the jail administration on the issue.

Talking to media persons outside Rims, Tejashwi blamed the administration for delaying his election programme. “They gave permission for my helicopter only till 1 pm in Palamu and the request for further extension was allowed after a delay of two hours. The helipad was about 5km from the venue of the public meeting. Hence, the delay,” he said, and rued, “The administration delayed the permission as a part of a conspiracy by the BJP government to prevent me from meeting my father.”

However, Palamu district election officer Santanu Kumar Agrahari said RJD was initially given permission between 11 am and 1 pm as the party had requested. “All of a sudden, they made a request for extension till 4pm. The SDM allowed the extension after completing the due process.”

Tejashwi also said the government is executing a plan to mentally harass his father by not carrying out medical tests. He refused to take questions related to the Lalu-Rabri front proposed by his elder brother Tej Pratap.