BJP, JD(U) flay Lalu Prasad Yadav for holding ‘durbar’ at hospital

PATNA: A picture showing incarcerated RJD chief Lalu Prasad holding ‘darbar’ at RIMS, Ranchi has evoked sharp reactions from the BJP and its ally JD(U) in Bihar. The RJD, on the contrary, described it a design of the rivals to scuttle chances of his possible release before the assembly election in Bihar. Lalu is undergoing treatment at RIMS while serving jail term in fodder scam cases.
Senior BJP leader and deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi (SuMo) on Monday said the judiciary and the CBI should take cognisance of Lalu holding a darbar at RIMS where he is admitted for treatment.
SuMo slammed Lalu for violating the Prison Manual and said those who were pleading for his release on parole citing Covid-19 pandemic as the prime reason should know that he (Lalu) is not a political prisoner. “It’s up to the judiciary (read court) whether Lalu should be released from jail. But some political activists were trying to pressurise the court by demanding Lalu’s release on the grounds of Covid-19 outbreak,” he tweeted.
JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad also said, “The central government must act on the ‘lawless culture as we don’t expect any action from the Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand, which survives on RJD and Congress’s support.”
He said even if Lalu was released on bail, it would not impact the upcoming assembly poll results. “There is more or less a similar situation as it was in 2010 when Lalu had campaigned for the RJD which had won only 22 seats,” he added.
However, RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari said BJP and JD(U) leaders were suffering from ‘Lalu phobia’. “Whenever his name surfaces, they become more active and start levelling baseless allegations, which reflect their frustration and disappointments,” he said.
He also described it to be a design of the rival parties to create such a situation that chances of his possible release become bleak. “But they will not succeed as Lalu ji has always honoured the judiciary and abided by its directions. Moreover, he meets the visitors at RIMS as per Jail Manual,” Tiwari said.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand alleged that Lalu’s picture with Jharkhand health minister and others had been made viral on social media by the Congress.