Patna: A day after RJD chief Lalu Prasad was shifted to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, against his will, the JDU and the RJD have locked horns on the former chief minister's sudden shift to the Jharkhand hospital.

"AIIMS-Delhi is considered one of the best institutes in India. Its qualified doctors have said that Lalu ji is fit to return to RIMS, Ranchi. In RIIMS, Laluji is not going to be treated by a veterinary. There are qualified doctors in RIIMS," said JDU MLC Neeraj Kumar.

He added that the RJD leaders who are making a hue and cry on the issue may be political experts but not specialists in medicine. "They are not medical experts," he said.

The RJD has reacted strongly to the JDU legislator's comment. "Neeraj Kumar has got his eyes checked by a vet. He needs to get it checked by a proper doctor if he cannot see that Lalu ji is ill," said RJD MLA Shakti Singh Yadav.

The RJD chief was shifted from AIIMS-Delhi on Monday in Rajdhani Express despite his plea that he was unwell and should be allowed to continue his stay in AIIMS.

He reached Ranchi on Tuesday and was taken to RIMS-Ranchi amid tight security. RJD MP Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav, who accompanied him on train, said Lalu ji's health was a major concern for the party and a doctor had to be called in Kanpur as his blood sugar shot up. "This is a clear conspiracy to physically harm him," said Jai Prakash,

JDU leaders on the other hand are worried over the RJD's efforts to whip up public sympathy in favour of Lalu and his family.

"It would have been better if Lalu was allowed to stay in AIIMS whatever his health condition was. But our senior leaders may have a different view," said a JDU MLA, adding that the episode had evoked sympathy for Lalu even among his critics.

A former RJD MP said longer Lalu remains in jail, the RJD is getting stronger with its voters more mobilised than when he was outside. "Incidents like shifting from AIIMS only increase the trend," said.

Meanwhile, RIMS acting director Dr R.K. Srivastava confirmed Lalu's return saying he has been admitted at the same cardiac super-specialty ward where he was admitted last time. On his line of treatment, Srivastava, said a team of fives doctors have been deputed who will provide treatment on the lines of AIIMS.

"A team of five doctors, including Umesh Prasad of medicine, R.G. Baxla of surgery, Prakash Kumar of cardiology, Bindu Bhusan Sinha of eye and Ashraf Jamal of urology departments have been deputed to him. They will provide treatment on the lines of AIIMS," Srivastava said without elaborating the details.