Patna: The JDU on Saturday took a dig at former JDU president Sharad Yadav over his proposed meeting with RJD chief Lalu Prasad at the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Jharkhand on February 5.
Sharad will reach Ranchi on Sunday and is scheduled to meet Lalu, who has been convicted in fodder scam cases, on Monday.
Attacking Sharad over the planned meeting, JDU MLC and spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said: "There was a time when Sharad ji had resigned from Parliament on the issue of corruption. He was seen as a political icon against corruption but today he has become the political uncle of Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav. It is matter of great shame that the same Sharad is now going to meet a person who is convicted in a corruption case."
After the collapse of the Grand Alliance government in Bihar, Sharad had criticised Nitish and charged him with cheating the mandate of the people of Bihar.
Later, the JDU approached the Rajya Sabha secretariat to disqualify his membership after which Sharad was disqualified. He had moved Delhi High Court on December 12, seeking setting aside of his disqualification from Rajya Sabha. Sharad pleaded before the court that the Rajya Sabha Chairman did not give him any chance to explain his position before passing the order. Sharad and the JDU's Rajya Sabha MP Ali Anwar were disqualified from Rajya Sabha on December 4.
Neeraj said meeting a corrupt person indicates a drastic change in Sharad's personality. "Sharad ji has surrendered in front of a tainted person. He may be going to assess his position in Rajya Sabha. He has become helpless. I won't be surprised if Laluji sends him to meet Mohammad Shahabuddin in Tihar jail," Neeraj said.
JDU leader and MLC Sanjay Singh, too, slammed Sharad over his proposed meeting with Lalu.
"Sharad ji used to be the best parliamentarian, but by going with corrupt people he has lost all credibility. He is now sitting in the lap of Laluji, whose own political career is finished. In reality, both are unemployed and jobless and it is a case of two unemployed people meeting. His meeting will have no impact on Bihar politics," Sanjay said.
Speaking to The Telegraph from New Delhi, Sharad said he does not react to statements issued by Nitish's chamchas (sycophants).
"I do not react to comments issued by chamchas. As far as meeting Laluji in Ranchi is concerned, it is a courtesy call as I have a long association with him. I am going to Ranchi to meet non-BJP leaders and will meet Lalu ji as well," Sharad said. He also said he would soon announce the name of his own political party.
Sharad expressed his fear that democracy was under threat in the BJP regime and if the party wins the 2019 Lok Sabha election everything would be over.
He reiterated that Nitish had cheated the mandate of 11 crore people of Bihar.
