RJD chief says leaders of alliance partners should not insult govt

 

Lalu Prasad at 10 Circular Road in Patna on Wednesday. Picture by Amit Bhelari

For the past few months, the buzz in Patna's political corridors is that all is not well between the RJD and JDU, partners in the Grand Alliance government. Some believe chief minister Nitish Kumar is having his way as far as running the government is concerned and does not take his allies into consideration. Some others assume RJD boss Lalu Prasad is calling the shots in the government machinery. To add to this, a fresh row has erupted over the March 9 election to four seats of the Legislative Council. In an interview to Amit Bhelari of The Telegraph, Lalu Prasad asserts he is trying to abide by the alliance dharma. Excerpts:

? The Telegraph: There is a verbal war going on between RJD and JDU legislators. Your MLAs are directly attacking chief minister Nitish Kumar.

Lalu Prasad: Time and again I have maintained that only heads of three political parties - the RJD, JDU and Congress - are authorised to speak on any issue. Despite my instructions, legislators keep taking swipes at each other. I fail to understand why they are in conflict on trivial issues. It does not look nice when the leaders of the Grand Alliance engage in mud-slinging.

? JDU leader Sanjay Singh said there will be no compromise on the seven resolves irrespective of whether this government remains or not.

Why do you give weightage to such comments and such people? They are not running the government. Only Nitish and Lalu know how the government is functioning. Running a government is not a joke. It is a big responsibility and people who are involved in decision-making know how difficult it is to run the government. Jo log sarkar nahi chalate unko kya pata, bas bayaan baazi karte rahte hai (those who don't run the government know nothing but sloganeering). Such leaders make comments to see their names in newspapers. One of them is JDU MLA Shyam Rajak.

? Why are questions being raised on the seven resolves, which is a pet project of the Grand Alliance government?

Those who are raising questions on the seven resolves are insulting the Grand Alliance government. They are not supposed to do this. We have completed one year and within this period, legislators are coming up with data and figures of achievements and failures, which is unfair. The government has set its priorities and work would be carried out accordingly. The government is dedicated and working on all aspects, be it road, tap water, electricity, health and education.

? Your legislators are accusing the government of rampant corruption at the grassroots and that nothing gets cleared without money.

Can you name any state where there is no corruption? Corruption is not only a case in Bihar, it is everywhere. (Uttar Pradesh chief minister) Akhilesh Yadav has done so many good things in UP but people still accuse him of corruption. He made roads such as the Agra-Lucknow Expressway where the Sukhoi and Mirage landed. But people accuse him of graft. What can he do? Corrupt people are there in every system and you cannot expect the government to go after them all the time. Collectors, police and the chief minister will not check whether the tap is functioning or not. There are people who sabotage the pipeline. As the westerly is blowing and the paddy is getting drier, is the government responsible for it? It's nature.

? RJD legislators say they are directly connected with the people so they have their responsibilities towards them. Where will they raise issues if you don't listen to them being the party head?

Who has stopped them from raising issues? They have the biggest weapon called the state legislature. The chief minister and the ministers have to stoop in front of its proceedings. They have so many options to raise their issues like short-notice question, starred questions, unstarred questions, call attention and zero hour. Raise issues on one such forum. Ask questions to the government and the chief minister. That dais is the biggest platform and their grievances would be resolved. Making unnecessary comments and attacking the government is not the solution and would not bring any change in the functioning of the government.

? It is assumed that you are the one who asks Raghuvansh Prasad Singh to attack the government. Is it correct?

It's all rubbish. People make up stories and you (media) believe in them. Why would I ask him to attack the government? He is an old socialist leader and he has his own views.

? You have fielded a candidate against the chairman in the Council election, whereas Nitish Kumar believes in not fielding any candidate against the acting chairman as it is against the tradition...

There is no such tradition of not fielding candidates against the acting chairman. I also believe even Nitish will not have any problem in doing so. We have a mutual understanding on the issue.

? It is believed that the JDU will support the acting chairman in the Council poll and not the RJD candidate.

I don't think so. Why would the JDU support the BJP candidate? JDU will support our candidate and I am sure of winning both the seats. As far as the Congress is concerned, the party does not want to field any candidate because (Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee president) Ashok Choudhary has spoken to me on the issue.