What made you go against the party line? You had been given many warnings as well.

I was expelled from the party because I spoke against Lalu Prasad's sons and daughter. Lalu's sons Tejaswi Yadav and Tej Pratap take lots of money from ticket-seekers. The party doesn't follow any ideology any more and the party chief is busy promoting his sons and daughter, isolating dedicated workers. I never sought a ticket from Lalu. It was he who offered me a ticket to contest because he knew I was the only candidate who could assure a win. As far as the party is concerned, I never spoke against it. I always advocated its manifesto and agenda. Those who used to warn me had no say in the party. They had risen in the party only because they licked Lalu's feet. Those who have not even won a panchayat election used to give me advice. They cannot do anything on their own.

Why this obsession with the issue of Lalu's successor when he has made it clear only his sons, and no one else, can succeed him?

I was not obsessed with the idea of succeeding Lalu. In a democracy, every individual can dream to be a politician. Tejaswi and Tej Pratap share the dream and they should, I never had any problem with that. But you cannot think of becoming a politician just because your father is one. You can only become or succeed through struggle. Rahul Gandhi is from the Nehru family, but is still struggling to become Prime Minister. Akhilesh Yadav became Uttar Pradesh chief minister but had to struggle for it. Similarly, Lalu's sons, too, need to struggle. Once they do so, society will accept them as leaders. They (Tejaswi and Tej Pratap) only indulge in abusing senior leaders. By doing so, they can never become politicians or draw crowds. They have not struggled for the party, not achieved anything. They don't go anywhere and yet want to succeed Lalu. What more can I say about Tejaswi? I became an MLA in 1990, he was born in 1989. Is it justified for a person my son's age to advise me just because he is Lalu's son? Sons and daughters can become successors when it comes to property and assets, but in politics it is the people who decide.

You have been with the Samajwadi Party, the LJP, the RJD and now you have formed your own front, the Jan Adhikar Party. Why don't you stick to one political party?

I never left any party. In fact, I was the person who strengthened the Samajwadi Party and the LJP. But who would like to be associated with a party if there is no internal democracy, if only sycophants and the mafia rule it and those without any political roots are praised? I never understand why the leadership is always scared of people who have political roots and indulge in ideology-based politics. Why can't internal democracy be established in the party? Why is the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) going through this phase? There should be freedom of thought and speech in a party. Capable people should get responsibilities according to their calibre. Issues related to the people should be raised. During the last Lok Sabha election, I raised the issue of contract teachers, which was there in the RJD manifesto. But when I raised it, Lalu didn't like it. So, what can I do? I stood by Lalu whenever he required my help, be it for the Lathi rally or any other rally. Whenever Lalu was in trouble, I helped him out, be it Ram Kripal Yadav's election or Rama Nand Yadav's.

You were with the RJD and kept talking against the party. Why didn't you resign if you felt you were not getting due respect in the party?

Do you think that I was doing anything wrong by talking about strengthening the party or spreading its ideology? I don't think raising issues related to party workers amounts to going against party line. When senior leaders like Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Mohammad Taslimuddin saheb used the same language, they were considered good but when I did it, I was called "anti-party". Why? It was Abdul Bari Siddiqui who made a separate group of 13 RJD MLAs and became their mentor. A lot of drama took place around that time. Lalu was very much aware, but did not do anything. Why? Many RJD MLAs voted against the party line after taking money during the Rajya Sabha election and were considered good. But I was seen as anti-party even when I raised a matter at the right forum. These people were seen as good because they do not have political roots, but when a person like me, who is a public figure and does everything for the public, raises an issue people speak against me. Recently, Raghuvansh babu spoke in favour of Manjhi. Did Lalu take any notice? Then, why so much drama when I say it? Now, you only judge who was speaking against the party and who in favour. As far as my resignation from the RJD is concerned, I was thinking that sooner or later, the party chief would hear my words and do things for the party's betterment. But I failed to make him understand and was punished for thinking in his favour.

What makes you support Jitan Ram Manjhi?

Earlier, there was a struggle between the rich and the poor. The rich exploited the poor and had their hegemony. Now, the same rich people are using politicians for their own vested interests. You can see that today birth and death anniversaries are celebrated based on caste.

Under Nitish's government, Yadavs and backward people are badly hit. Assets belonging to Muslims and Yadavs were confiscated. When Nitish handpicked Jitan Ram Manjhi, the latter was working for the welfare of the downtrodden. Manjhi represents the Dalits. So when Nitish made him chief minister, I decided to support him and will keep on doing so because my politics is based on the uplift of all sections of in our state.

Take Manjhiji's stand on contract teachers, stopping scams in construction, 5 decimal land for SC/STs and many others. They were all pro-poor.

If Nitish wants to shun communal people and is eager to bring to the mainstream those who are standing last in the queue, how can he leave out Manjhi, who comes from the poorest of the poor?

From your activities and remarks one can make out that you are helping the BJP. You have also become soft ever since you met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Everyone knows how I reacted vis-a-vis the Bhagalpur and Sitamarhi riots, how I had slammed those responsible. In the land of Kosi, you can find out who is a symbol of peace and harmony. You can find out which MP asked the maximum questions to the BJP and Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha. It was I. Now, is advocating the truth a crime or divinity?

Narendra Modi attended Lalu's daughter's wedding at both Saifai and New Delhi. What do you have to say to that? Was it not political? Every meeting is political. Even Nitish met Narendra Modi, but when Manjhiji met Modi, he was called pro-BJP, why? When I met Modiji, I, too, was termed pro-BJP. Mehbooba Mufti met Modiji. Mamata Banerjee was a minister in a BJP government. Mayawati had formed a government with BJP support. In fact, even Mulayam Singh Yadav supported the land acquisition bill in Rajya Sabha. So, every one can meet Narendra Modi, but when I meet him, I become bad. My political life is based on ideology, not on people. These people (Lalu, Mulayam and Nitish) become secular or non-secular for the sake of power. Lalu used to say that Modi was a killer of humanity. Then, why did he invite a killer to his daughter's wedding? Why did Nitish meet a killer? So, in politics you never know when someone becomes a killer. Has Modi ceased to be a killer for Nitish, Lalu and Mulayam? I do not need a certificate in secularism from anybody. I will be secular till I die. My battle is against caste and religion. Other politicians need certificates in secularism, Pappu Yadav does not. As far as meeting the Prime Minister is concerned, I had met him regarding developmental issues in my constituency.

You once called doctors executioners or flesh-eating devils. What makes you hate them so much?

My agitation against doctors will continue and I have a series of rallies lined up against them. I must declare that my agitation is only against those doctors who fleece poor patients, charging unnecessarily high fees from them. My battle against doctors will continue till Parliament passes a legislation to regulate and control erring and fake doctors. My fight is not against any individual or profession. I am fighting against the system to protect the interests of the common man. I do not hate doctors, in fact I have high regard for them. What I hate are their whims and fancies. I am not asking something which is impossible for the government. I am just demanding a ban on private practice by government doctors and a crackdown on illegal labs across the state. I think, these issues affect the common man. I will take my agitation to its logical conclusion.

You are considered a former don with a Robin Hood Persona. Why?

I don't know why people epitomise me like a don with a Robin Hood persona. I am neither a don nor Robin Hood. At least, my family background does not make me either. But yes, I have always fought against the corrupt system, feudal mentality and the uncontrolled bureaucracy and would continue to do so. I am not a Tata-Birla who has lots of money to donate to the people. I can say it is the media and my way of functioning that has made me a Robin Hood. The tag of don is given by those who are jealous of my benevolent attitude.

What would you have been had you not been a politician?

I would have been a social worker and would have engaged in helping people by forming my own organisation to fight against corrupt officers and politicians, or I would have held a senior post in the navy or defence.