Lalu Prasad outside Parliament after the Lokpal bill was tabled on Thursday; Sonia Gandhi reacts during the debate in the Lok Sabha. Pictures by Rajesh Kumar and PTI

New Delhi, Dec. 22: Lalu Prasad today led the charge against the Lokpal bill and Team Anna, dipping into his repertoire of wit to warn the government of the dangers of succumbing to street protests and rushing through with a legislation that wasn’t strong.

In a 25-minute speech that drew thumping applause, the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief touched on all the contentious points, such as bringing the Prime Minister within the ambit of the proposed anti-graft ombudsman, and also cautioned rival BJP against putting a “noose around their neck”.

He also poked fun at Anna Hazare’s threat of another hunger strike. “If someone goes on fast for the benefit of his health, what do we have to do with it?” he said.

The former Bihar chief minister grabbed the focus from the word go when the Lok Sabha convened this morning as he compelled the government to reinstate the quota for minorities in the Lokpal panel.

But it was his speech later that defined the fightback of the political class when he spoke of the dangers of giving in to street pressure.

“Tomorrow that man will again tell us to do something else…. Will treat us like slaves and threaten to organise protests outside our houses… outside Sonia Gandhi’s house, Rahul Gandhi’s house and MPs’ houses. This will be an attack on our Constitution,” he said, as Congress MPs, including Rahul, thumped desks.

“Parliament cannot be run from the footpath,” he said.

“Three-four people cannot dictate to Parliament. We are the lawmakers,” the RJD boss thundered.

Lalu Prasad said Hazare’s agitation was directed at finishing the country’s democratic structure and asked the government not to act in haste without taking into account the implications.

He opposed the proposal to bring the Prime Minister under the Lokpal’s ambit, saying it could lead to instability.

“The PM is the leader of the country. People will file complaints against the PM. He goes outside to sign international treaties. Other countries will fear he could go to jail. They will dread to sign treaties. What will be the face of the country before the international community?” he wondered.

The draft tabled today exempts international treaties.

The veteran leader also cautioned the BJP for supporting the bill. Taking a dig at the main Opposition and its leaders, he chief said the party should realise that L.K. Advani or Narendra Modi could become Prime Minister one day. “Don’t put the noose around your neck,” Lalu Prasad pleaded.

He also opposed bringing the CBI under the Lokpal and said the premier investigative agency should report to the judiciary.

Asked by the Chair to wind up, Lalu Prasad continued as MPs cutting across party lines urged him to go on. “I have been mandated by all the MPs to speak on their behalf,” he said.

The RJD chief said he wasn’t against the bill but said the current draft had limitations.

“We want the Lokpal bill. Everybody wants to fight corruption. But the bill should be strong. This is not strong and is full of limitations,” he said.

Lalu Prasad attacked Team Anna for calling MPs “corrupt” and “traitors” and dared everyone — including social activists — to declare their property. He said the activists were only targeting politicians and not talking about wealth accumulated by people in other fields.

Earlier, when the House assembled, he was on his feet over the deletion of the quota for minorities on the proposed Lokpal panel. With just four MPs in the House, he set his eyes on the Samajwadi members. As Samajwadi boss Mulayam Singh Yadav had not yet arrived, Lalu Prasad took over his MPs. Raising slogans, he was soon at the well of the House with the Samajwadi MPs behind him.

Other parties like the BSP and the Left backed Lalu Prasad’s demand. The Trinamul Congress, too, jumped into the fray. Party MP Kalyan Banerjee said their leader Mamata Banerjee spoke to the government and got the minority quota reinstated. “We informed our leader Mamata Banerjee about the minority quota being dropped. Immediately she talked to the government and it has been reinstated,” he said.