PATNA: RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Monday bitterly protested the downgrading of his security cover by the Centre, calling it a ploy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prevent him from mingling with the people. His two sons termed the move as a conspiracy to get him murdered.Lalu’s elder son and Bihar’s former health minister Tej Pratap Yadav kicked up a controversy by threatening to “skin” Modi, which led BJP MP Parvesh Verma to file a police complaint against him in Delhi. The West Delhi MP requested the police to file a case under four sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Instead of Z+ security cover of NSG commandos, Lalu will now be given Z category security and be guarded by an armed commando squad of the Central Reserve Police Force. Lalu called up Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to protest, but failed to speak with him. He and his sons then launched a tirade against the Centre, with Tej Pratap issuing threats against the PM. “We keep organising workers’ meetings and Lalu takes part in them. By downgrading his security cover, they are hatching a murder conspiracy against him. We will give a befitting reply to this move ... We will skin Narendra Modi,” he said. “If my father is killed who will take responsibility for this?” he asked.
Tej Pratap’s remarks against Modi came days after he threatened to disrupt the marriage ceremony of Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi’s son on December 3, which led to the change of venue. The RJD chief’s younger son and former deputy chief minister Tejaswi Yadav said, “Lalu’s name is on top of the hitlist of BJP and Nitish Kumar. He is a mass leader and many people keep meeting him. I fear there is a conspiracy to have him killed.”
The security downgrade followed a recent review of the threat perception of protected VIPs. “This is a political ploy. I suspect Narendra Modi does not want me to I travel among the people for the upcoming elections. This is part of the conspiracy by BJP and Modi to increase the threat on my life. But Lalu is not someone who can be frightened into submission,” the former chief minister told journalists.
Arguing that many “small BJP leaders” had been provided Z-plus security, Lalu said, “The polls are approaching, and I will be moving around among the people... Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar will be responsible if anything unfortunate happens with me.” Defending Tej Pratap, Lalu said: “Any son’s blood will boil when he learns such conspiracies against his father. Tej Pratap has blood in his body. I told him ‘Do not issue such statements. Your father is still young’.”
Ruling BJP and JD(U) leaders scoffed at Lalu for protesting against the security downgrade. “Is Lalu frightened? He keeps saying he is one of the bravest leaders… Some people have taken the security cover as a status symbol. Who is Lalu afraid of? The people of Bihar and the country are afraid of him, his words,” said Sushil Kumar Modi.“Lalu is a convicted politician and is on his way to jail. He will find the best security in jail,” said JD(U) leader Sanjay Singh.
They are hatching a murder conspiracy against him. We will give a befitting reply to this move ... We will skin Narendra Modi. If my father is killed, who will take the responsibility?
Tej Pratap Yadav, Bihar’s former health minister
This is a conspiracy by BJP and Modi to increase the threat on my life. But Lalu is not someone who can be frightened into submission... Modi and Nitish Kumar will be responsible if anything happens to me
Lalu Prasad Yadav, RJD chief