(From left) Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Lalu Prasad and Ramchandra Purbey at Karpoori Thakur’s birth anniversary function at Gardanibagh stadium in Patna on Monday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Jan. 24: RJD chief Lalu Prasad today slammed the Nitish government in his year’s first public meeting in which thousands of supporters gathered during the birth anniversary celebrations of late chief minister of Bihar Karpoori Thakur at Gardanibagh stadium.

Many were found sitting on the stadium railings to catch a glimpse of Lalu.

The stadium was packed with RJD supporters and Lalu was giving instructions while sitting on the stage to maintain discipline at the gathering.

Speaking on the occasion, Lalu said he had learnt politics from Karpoori Thakur and was very inspired by him. “I shall proudly take credit that I am the successor of Thakurji because he took his last breath in my lap and before dying he made me his heir.”

Attacking chief minister Nitish Kumar, he said: “Earlier, the same people were against Thakurji’s ideals and today these very people say they respect him. Let me remind them I was the closest to him in the last moment of his life. Being inspired by his ideals, today I have the power of poor people behind me. Acting like an advocate of social justice, I will keep fighting for them till the last drop of blood in my body.”

Talking about his regime, Lalu said: “People refer to my regime as jungle raj but Patna High Court has termed the Nitish government as jungle raj and said it is marred with corruption charges. Nitishji keeps on seeking special status for the state but the Centre will never give him that. He just wants to take credit for the work initiated by me and my government.”

Taking about the setting up of a 40-foot statue of Mahatma at Gandhi Maidan, Lalu attacked Nitish for replacing his name from all the statues in the state. “The Nitish government has decided to replace the present Gandhi statue from Gandhi Maidan and wants to set up a 40-foot statue at the same place. It’s not about setting up the statue, it’s about replacing my name with his own.”

Lalu also joked about how Nitish would garland such a tall statue. He also criticised the Nabinagar issue where the government has planned to set up a 3300MW power plant. “Farmers are protesting against Nitish’s harsh decision, I am not against setting up of power plants but it shall not be at the cost of snatching someone’s rights. An appropriate compensation shall be given to farmers and Nabinagar shall not be converted into another Nandigram.” The place had turned into a mini bazaar and many had erected small stalls outside the stadium for that particular time.

Lalu also slammed BJP on the issue of hoisting the Tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on January 26. “The moral level of BJP and RSS has been boosted after achieving good results in the Bihar Assembly election. In the name of hoisting the flag, the BJP is spreading feelings of hatred and want to start riots in the country. This Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha people are going to Srinagar from different parts of the districts and if Nitish does not stop them, it will have big repercussions.”

RJD MP from Vaishali Raghuvansh Prasad Singh was present with Lalu. He said: “Nitish just talks but no work is done, he claims to eliminate corruption with law and act, but the issue of corruption will not be solved like this. Bribery is prevailing on a large-scale in the state and no work is done without giving bribe.” The other leaders present on the occasion were RJD state unit president Ramchandra Purbey, Rajya Sabha MP Ram Kripal Yadav, senior leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan and the leader of opposition in the state Assembly Abdul Bari Siddiqui.