New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi on Monday met Lalu Prasad hours before the jailed leader was shifted out of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences against his wishes.
The Congress president landed up in AIIMS to meet Lalu and spent around 30 minutes talking to the RJD leader, which was seen as politically significant.
Though Rahul didn't tweet any picture of his meeting with Lalu nor supported the RJD's protest over the leader's shifting out of AIIMS, the RJD sought to play up the meeting.
"Congress President Sh. @RahulGandhi Ji met RJD chief @laluprasadrjd in AIIMS Hospital, New Delhi this morning and enquired about his deteriorating health condition", the RJD tweeted with a picture of the meeting.
"Kind Hearted, Dynamic, Spirited and Unperturbed Congress President Sh. @RahulGandhi Ji visited ailing Sh. @laluprasadrjd Ji in AIIMS. True leaders know who they are and what they stand for," tweeted political scientist Sanjay Yadav, connected to the RJD.
For the RJD, Rahul reaching out to Lalu held significance given the past record of the Congress leader's exhibition of dislike for the Bihar leader over the issue of corruption. Rahul had famously torn off an ordinance in public that proposed to permit convicted leaders to contest elections during the UPA 2 government. It was widely seen as an expression of Rahul's disgust against Lalu's corruption and the UPA 2 government's effort to back him.
The RJD, however, would have been happier had Rahul also tweeted a picture of Monday's meeting with Lalu and protested against the leader's shift from AIIMS to Ranchi's RIMS against his wishes.
Lalu, in his letter dated April 29 to AIIMS director Randeep Guleria, strongly protested against the premier health facility's decision to shift him to Ranchi, claiming his health was not so good.
"If my life is threatened by this decision, then you (AIIMS) will be held responsible," Lalu said in the letter while stressing that Ranchi didn't have adequate medical facilities to handle his health condition.
AIIMS, in a statement, termed Lalu's health stable and said he was fit to travel. The hospital discharged Lalu, saying his chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and backache could be managed at a hospital in Ranchi.
The security office at AIIMS complained against RJD supporters, alleging they created nuisance and misbehaved with the hospital staff.
"It is to inform you that...8-10 miscreants misbehaved with the AIIMS staff and created nuisance in the hospital area protesting against the discharge of Sh. Lalu Prasad Yadav...They damaged the glass door of Cath Lab from rear entrance gate side resulting in injury to security guard of AIIMS..." the AIIMS said in a complaint to the police.
