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Indiscreet Rabri Devi leaves JD(U) fuming
The Janata Dal (U) lodged a complaint against Lalu Prasad’s wife and Leader of the Opposition Rabri Devi with the state election commission on Sunday, for making insinuations about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s personal life.
The Janata Dal (U) lodged a complaint against Lalu Prasad’s wife and Leader of the Opposition Rabri Devi with the state election commission on Sunday, for making insinuations about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s personal life. It has threatened to sue her for defamation as well.
The insinuation relates to the relationship between Nitish and the state president of the JD(U) Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh.
Television footage of a meeting Rabri addressed at Chapra — where Lalu is contesting from — shows her saying: “Lalan Singh is Nitish’s brother-in-law…and Nitish is Lalan’s brother-in-law. That’s why the two of them are often seen holding hands.” In fact Lalan and Nitish are not related.
In its complaint the JD(U) strongly condemned Rabri’s ‘abusive and personal remarks’ and demanded she be stringently punished.
Apart from hauling her up for violating the model code of conduct, it wants the election commission to terminate her assembly membership and bar her from further campaigning in this poll.
“It exposes the culture of the Rashtriya Janata Dal,” said Nitish. “It shows up the mental bankruptcy of its leaders and their utter frustration because they know they are going to lose.”
“No decent person would talk this way,” added JD(U) spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari. “We have taken her remarks very, very seriously. It is amazing that a person who was chief minister of Bihar for more than seven years, can cross all limits and use such abusive words against her political opponents when a debate is on in the people's court for support. We will distribute CDs of her speech throughout the state and let the people judge.”
While Rabri Devi could not be reached for her response, Lalu refused to comment on the controversy. “What is it? Leave it,” he said, striding away from reporters.
