JD-U, BJP Leaders Slam Lalu

Patna: Nov. 17, 2008

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, at a press conference in Patna on Monday following his weekly Janata Durbar, took his aim once again at his old nemesis Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav calling him a man who was like a bad light bulb 'that was there but did not provide light' at any time.

"Lalu Yadav is dying to occupy the Chief Minister's residence that once used to be his home. If he had his ways, he would kick me out of the Chief Minister's bungalow in a heartbeat. Unfortunately for him, people of Bihar put me in this building and only they have the power to eject me from here no matter how much the RJD leader wishes otherwise," Kumar said.

The Chief Minister said that he did not need a certificate of secularism from Lalu Prasad Yadav.

"All this time in power in Bihar and yet he did not do anything for the Bhagalpur riot victims. What was stopping him from providing justice to the Muslims who, at one point, considered him their messiah?" he asked.

"My last letter was the final letter to Yadav. Now even if he writes to me, I will not waste my time in replying to his letter," Kumar said.

Janata Dal (U) MP and national spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari also called Yadav a 'false messiah' who was using fear tactic to regain support of Muslims in Bihar.

"He is yet to realize that he is no more in power in Bihar. He also keeps talking about resigning from the UPA government even though no one believes a word he says. This is the same person who, amidst much fanfare, rewarded the chief accused in the Bhagalpur riots but now trying to scare the Muslims that they were not safe under the NDA government," Tiwari said.

Calling Yadav a 'total fraud', Tiwari said the notorious con man Natwarlal's soul had found a new home in the body of the Railway Minister.

The JD-U leader also targeted the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan saying he had found a friend in Lalu Prasad Yadav because he knows without the RJD chief's support, he had no chance of winning even a single seat in Bihar.

Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Janardan Singh Sigriwal also blasted the Railway Minister for calling senior party leader Lal Krishna Advani a terrorist.

"Lalu, in his 15 years of rule in Bihar, criminalized the whole political process and protected and encouraged terrorists like Siwan MP Mohammed Shahabuddin and terrorist organizations like SIMI. Before he accuses others, he needs to look within his own party to see who is a terrorist and who is not," Sigriwal said.

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