E-Paper
Maharashtra is most criminalised state: Laloo
Accusing media of branding Bihar as a state where there has been criminalisation of politics, the RJD chief has blamed Maharashtra as the "most criminalised state" in the country.
Accusing media of branding Bihar as a state where there has been criminalisation of politics, RJD President Laloo Prasad Yadav has blamed Maharashtra as the "most criminalised state" and attributed it to the presence of Shiv Sena.
"See the amount of criminalisation in Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra is the most criminalised state due to Shiv Sena," he told BBC in an interview on its 'Modern Indian Maharajas' series on Asia Today programme.
He also attacked Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for the post-Godhra communal violence in the state.
Replying to a question on criminalisation of Bihar politics, the former Chief Minister shot back saying "why Bihar, why are you pointing at Bihar? Its because we are in Bihar that you are targeting us and the media as well as bigots because of their superior debating skills are trying to target us but it does not make any difference to Laloo Yadav", according to a BBC release.
On lack of progress in the state, he said whatever development had taken place was during the last 14 years of RJD rule. "Our development is not projected properly, we actually get negative publicity and we too are not keen to project our achievements".
Yadav said Bihar has always been neglected in every sphere - whether it is roads or power. "Roads belong to the Central Government but we were being criticised. So, I put up a board that said 'these roads belong to the Central Government'. They then felt uneasy and gave us money that is being put to use," he said.
The RJD Chief accused the media of acting as BJP's mouth piece and coming out with "erroneous" poll surveys saying one party would have so many seats and another would get this much. "This is all rubbish," he added.
