PM should pick public square to get punishment, says Lalu; angry BJP seeks apology

Lalu Prasad today asked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to choose a roundabout where people can punish him.
RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav (File | PTI)
RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav (File | PTI)

PATNA: RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who is preparing to launch his party’s anti-demonetisation agitations on December 28, on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to choose the chauraha (public square) where he would like to get punished, as per his declaration, for launching the monetary exercise that caused massive inconvenience to the country’s poor and disadvantaged sections.

Yadav’s choice of words and the enthusiasm seen among RJD leaders and workers to carry out the agitations across Bihar prompted BJP leaders to attack Yadav, insinuating that the former railway minister and former Bihar chief minister is worried because demonetisation rendered his stock of black money worthless.

“He (Modi) is acting like a dictator. Sitting in the prime minister’s chair, he is busy saying whatever rubbish (anaap-sanaap) comes to his mind. He had said the people can mete out to him whatever punishment they want after 50 days… The prime minister should choose the chauraha (public square) where people can reach to punish him,” said Yadav after flagging off a publicity vehicle of his party for the proposed demonstrations at every district headquarters town on December 28.

Hitting out at Modi further, Yadav said: “He (Modi) has turned the entire (demonetisation) exercise into a show of monkey dancing (madari ka khel)… He is mistaken that chants of ‘Modi, Modi’ at his meetings show people admire him. These chants are by a few RSS men in the front seats, and they are not the voices of the masses”.

Yadav, who is still awaiting ally JD(U)’s approval of RJD’s anti-demonetisation agitations, said BJP would lose badly if elections are held in the country today and that in the upcoming Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, BJP would fail to make any substantial gains. “Samajwadi Party will win the UP polls. I and other leaders from here (Bihar) would campaign for Mulayam Singh Yadav’s party,” added Yadav.

Union agriculture minister and senior BJP leader Radha Mohan Singh said: “The people of the country have faced some inconvenience (due to demonetisation), but nobody is as worried as Lalu. This indicates there is something wrong… (ddal me kuchh kala hai)”. Prem Kumar, the leader of the Opposition in Bihar Assembly, said: “Lalu must choose his words well. His attack on the popular prime minister is condemnable. Lalu should immediately apologise”.

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