(From top) Lalu Prasad and Baba Ramdev

Patna, April 21: Rumblings within the RJD surfaced with legislator Nawal Kishore Yadav slamming RJD chief Lalu Prasad for his reported statement against yoga guru Ramdev.

“Lalu Prasad has ashamed the Yadav community by mocking at Baba Ramdev. He must apologise for his unsavoury remarks against the yoga guru,” Nawal Kishore said.

Ramdev hails from the Yadav community and even Lalu Prasad has taken pride in the fact that the most sought after yoga guru hails from the caste.

However, ever since Baba Ramdev joined the campaign against corruption launched by social activist Anna Hazare, the relationship between Lalu and the yoga guru have nose-dived. The RJD boss recently said in his inimitable style, “Ramdev Yadav hokar dawa bechta hain, yog sikhata hain, usse doodh bechna chahiye (Despite hailing from the Yadav caste, Ramdev sells medicine and teaches yoga. He should sell milk).”

Nawal Kishore, RJD’s Member of Legislative Council (MLC), said that Lalu’s remarks have angered the Yadav youths who are pursuing higher education and are conscious about their health.

“If one is born in the Yadav community, it is not warranted upon him that he has to sell milk and graze buffalos in the field,” the legislator said.

Nawal Kishore’s outburst immediately led state RJD president Ramchandra Purbey issue a showcause notice to him. The legislator has replied cautiously to the notice, expressing his faith in the party leadership.

However, when asked about it, the RJD MLC remarked that he still has strong objections to what Lalu said about Baba Ramdev.

“I have nothing personal against Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi as I have never spoken against them,” he added.

Sources in the party revealed that Lalu was quite furious over Nawal Kishore’s objection. He reportedly asked the state leadership to show Nawal Kishore the door.

Purbey confirmed that Nawal Kishore has replied to the showcause notice and has expressed faith in the party leadership.

The RJD is examining his reply, said party sources.

Nawal Kishore has also questioned the naming of the New Delhi-based party office as “Rabri Bhavan”.

“The RJD is based on the political philosophies of Ram Manohar Lohia, Karpoori Thakur, Jai Prakash Narayan and Madhu Limaye. Why the party office should be named after Rabri Devi when we already have a list of our illustrious idols.”

Nawal Kishore’s outbursts against RJD’s top bosses give an impression that the young leader, who has so far been a loyal protégé of Lalu Prasad, might be looking for an escape route at the behest of Nitish Kumar’s JD (U) which has, apparently, been on the “mission” to further enervate the RJD. In fact, sources in the RJD revealed that Nawal Kishore has “secretly” met the chief minister before airing his displeasure over Lalu’s remark.

Without naming Nawal Kishore, Nitish has praised Baba Ramdev saying, “There is nothing wrong if the yoga guru enters politics.”

However, if Nawal Kishore quits the RJD, it will be another blow to Lalu Prasad who has been struggling to keep his flock together after the party’s debacle in the last elections.

“The silver lining for the RJD is that the JD (U) already faces the problem of plenty and is not eager to induct more MLAs and MLCs from the Opposition camp,” said a senior RJD leader insisting that Nawal Kishore Yadav was an isolated case and at present, he does not foresee mass exodus from the party.

One of his staunchest supporters, Shyam Rajak, who was referred to as Lalu’s Hanuman had deserted his mentor (Lalu) to join the JD (U) prior to the Assembly polls. Rajak is a minister in the NDA-II. The RJD MLC may plan to follow the footsteps of Rajak.