No difference with Sonia, says Lalu
Dismissing reports of any differences with Sonia Gandhi, RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Tuesday met the Congress President after a four-month hiatus.
Dismissing reports of any differences with Sonia Gandhi, RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Tuesday met the Congress President after a four-month hiatus.
"All talks of differences are wrong. When there has been no fight, where is the question of any rapprochement," he told reporters after the 30-minute meeting at her residence.
Maintaining that his relations with Gandhi remained unchanged, he said "I have deep respect for her which will always remain".
To a question, he asserted that his party would not withdraw support from the UPA government. On whether he had a similar regret as Samajwadi Party on support to UPA, he said RJD may oppose some policies of the Congress-led coalition but will not part ways.
"Problems are not solved by withdrawing support. My mission is not to withdraw support. I came here to discuss drought in Bihar which is a crisis now," he said.
He accused the Nitish Kumar government of shifting blame to the Centre. "The situation is getting from bad to worse. People are dying of hunger. Special help is needed for the people of the state which is facing calamity-like situation. Government should start community kitchen," he said.
Prasad said he will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday on the issue.