New Delhi: RJD on Thursday alleged a political conspiracy by BJP and JD-U behind the sentencing of Lalu Prasad but ruled out the possibility of a change in party leadership, saying its chief will be out on bail soon.
“Lalu ji has become a victim of a political conspiracy and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar (of JDU) and BJP has an important role in this conspiracy. We will go to people and apprise them of the conspiracy and hobnobbing between BJP and JD(U) against Lalu ji,” party MP Ramkripal Yadav told reporters after a special court in Ranchi sentenced Prasad to five years imprisonment in a 17-year-old fodder scam case.
“Lalu is innocent. He has been punished because he was voicing the concerns of the poor and strengthening secularism. Those who made money are moving outside freely and the person, who lodged the case, got 45 FIRs registered, has been jailed,” Yadav, a close aide of Prasad, said. Senior party leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh trashed talks about the possibility of a change in RJD’s leadership saying it was not required as Prasad will be out on bail.
“Lalu is himself available. What crisis if somebody is absent for five-ten days? Yes he has been sentenced for five years but will he not get bail? We will move an appeal in high court,” he said. “I have given him the Gita. By the time, he reads up half of the scripture, he will be out of jail. If somebody goes somewhere for 10-20 days, should we make another appointment in his place. This is totally impractical,” he said.
He also sought to make a difference between Prasad appointing his wife Rabri Devi as chief minister, when he was first sent to jail long back and the situation now. “There is difference between the headship of the government. At that time, he was the head of the government. The head of government has to be changed, if the incumbent head of the government is going to jail. That is the technical thing. There is no such technical requirement as far as party headship is concerned,” Singh said.
Singh, whose name was also being speculated as the possible next president of RJD after Lalu’s conviction, asserted that there is “no need” to make somebody else as party chief. The senior RJD leader also saw some “game” in the way the ordinance on convicted lawmakers was opposed leading to its withdrawal finally.
“In the all-party meeting in July, there was a consensus among all parties that the Supreme Court verdict on the issue needs to be overturned and that a law should be made for this. “When the bill came in Parliament, then the case of Lalu Prasad came in focus. BJP saw a good opportunity sensing that the RJD chief could become the first victim of the order and then they began chanting another mantra.
“Changing tune, it was the BJP, which first said that there should be a consideration on it and then the JD(U) also expressed its disagreement. BJP and JDU joined hands on the issue,” Singh said. He, however, said that after the crisis, all partymen have come together and expressed confidence that the present circumstances will strengthen the RJD. (PTI)
We expected justice from court: Rabri Devi
Patna: Former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi said Thursday that the RJD was disappointed after a court jailed her husband and party leader Lalu Prasad for five years in the fodder scam.
“Laluji has become a victim of political conspiracy as there was no proof against him,” Rabri Devi told the media here after the CBI court sentenced Lalu Prasad in Ranchi.
“We expected justice from the court but are disappointed.”
She insisted that Lalu Prasad had been framed by political opponents and that he was a victim of a “political conspiracy”.
Rabri Devi added: “We will not be silent. The RJD will go to people. I will lead the party.” Lalu Prasad, former chief minister Jagannath Mishra and 43 others have been convicted on charges of fradulently withdrawing Rs.37.70 crore from the Chaibasa district treasury. (IANS)