Monday, Dec 16, 2013
Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad walked out of jail on Monday, 77 days after he was convicted in the fodder scam case.
Prasad’s freedom follows the bail granted by the country’s Supreme Court. He was lodged in Birsa Munda Central jail in neighbouring Jharkhand state.
After emerging from the jail, Prasad appeared his usual self. He did not display any signs of stress and vowed to defeat divisive “communal forces”.
“I’m girding up my loins to take on the communal forces out to divide the nation … I will sacrifice anything to drive those forces out,” Prasad, who was mobbed by party officials and supporters, told the media outside the jail.
He added that he would go around the country to strengthen the secular forces. He said going to jail had not made him nervous. “Rather, it was from here that Lord Krishna [a Hindu god] had slain mythological Kamsa, a tyrant. It ]jail] is the birthplace of Lord Krishna and he is fortunate that he was sent to jail,” said Prasad adding those who feared jail could not do anything in life.
Talking about the defeats of the Congress in the recent assembly elections to four states, the RJD chief said victory and defeat were part of the elections.
He also took potshots on the parties who are refusing to form a government in Delhi after the election results.
“Now, we have political parties in Delhi who want to fight elections but don’t want to form government,” he said in obvious reference to BJP and Aam Aadmi Party, which have declined an offer to form a government, citing the lack of a majority.
Prasad accused the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) of implicating him in false cases but added that he had full faith in the judiciary. “The CBI case against me is false … I can’t even begin to describe the injustice the investigating agency has done to me,” he alleged.
Soon after talking to the media, Prasad’s convoy left for the local Deori Temple to offer prayers. Indian cricketer captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a regular visitor to the temple.
Prasad was scheduled to remain in Ranchi on Monday and travel to Patna on Tuesday by road. His jubilant supporters have erected welcome arches at several places along the some 325km-long Ranchi-Patna road, which he is expected to use.
Many of his party parliamentarians and lawmakers have already rushed to Ranchi to accompany the party chief and accord him warm welcome.
“Lalu Prasad has come in his original colour and is ready to serve a befitting reply to Narendra Modi [BJP’s prime ministerial candidate],” said party parliamentarian Ram Kripal Yadav.
By Lata Rani ?Correspondent
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
