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Patna Diary

Case threats over remark

Now it's the RJD threatening to file cases against deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi for the reported remarks made by Lalu Prasad on the upper castes. “But it was Laluji who dubbed Modi mukadmebaj (professional litigator) once. He used to say that we did not believe in the powers of the people to dislodge him and were always using the court to destablise him,” remarked a senior BJP leader. Modi, however, remained defiant. He said the RJD chief was in the habit of making statements one day and issuing a denial the other. Incidentally, Modi and Lalu Prasad are both products of the JP agitation of 1974. While Lalu Prasad was president of the Patna University Students' Union, Modi was its general secretary. Throughout their long political career, Lalu Prasad has taken barbs at Modi. “Modi happened to be my secretary,” Lalu remarked frequently. The war between the ex-president and his former secretary goes on through public statements and the court.

In demand, in jail

Hotly pursued, jailed ex-MP Anand Mohan has done another U-turn. After RJD MP Ram Kripal Yadav visited him in Saharsa jail, it was rumoured that he will support the party if Lalu Prasad gives 12 seats in the Assembly to candidates of his choice. The Congress got worried and began to send feeders to him. The party heaved a sigh of relief when Anand Mohan's wife and former MP Lovely Anand remarked that she and her husband would continue to support the Congress. Now political circles are speculating for how many seats the deal was fixed. “It has to be more than 12,” guessed a Congress leader. Anand Mohan had floated his own outfit called Bihar People's Party which Lalu Prasad ridiculed as pee pa ke so gaya. His party failed to get a single seat in the 1995 and 2000 Assembly polls. Senior Congressmen have declared that the party has to be desperate to woo politicians like him. /B>

Unwanted garland

Road construction minister Prem Kumar was reportedly garlanded with shoes by his supporters in his home constituency of Gaya. A local channel showed the clippings. But the minister denied the incident and called it “trick photography” to defame him. But the minister should be used to frequent hostility. “Once before during the visit of the chief minister, a section of the crowd began to chant Prem Kumar murdabad. The minister joined in the chorus,” a BJP worker recalled. However, the minister has had the reputation of being one of the most recognised leaders of the extremely backward castes and wins comfortably despite the hostile receptions he gets frequently.