Patna, June 16 : After launching his own blog, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad now plans to write a book to debunk myths about his "anti-upper caste" image and to expose those responsible for "defaming" him.
Lalu, who is also Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief, claims he never abused upper castes as charged by his political rivals. He maintained that he had never targeted upper castes by saying 'Bhura Baal Saaf Karo' - that means eliminate the Bhumihar, Brahman, Rajput and Lala, four upper castes common in Bihar.
"I never made such remarks," he said at a party meet.
"It was all created by (people who have) vested interests to defame me and tarnish my image," Lalu said. "I was made a victim of propaganda by powerful people, who were threatened by my commitment for social justice."
He denied various other statements attributed to him, including a reported claim that he would make Bihar's roads as smooth as actress Hema Malini's cheeks.
Lalu, who turned 61 last week, said that a story had been circulated that when he was chief minister of Bihar, he used to order the chief secretary, who happened to belong to an upper caste, to prepare khaini (tobacco) for him.
"The motive behind was to send a message that Lalu was humiliating a top upper caste official and hence paint my image as being anti-upper caste," the minister said at the end of a two-day party meet in Kaimur district Sunday that was held to deliberate on the strategy for the forthcoming parliamentary elections.
He revealed that all these controversies would be part of the book he is preparing to write.
"I will expose big names in politics on how they rose to the peak of power-politics," Lalu stated.
In the early 1990s, soon after Lalu came to power in caste-ridden and feudal Bihar, the RJD chief was projected as anti-upper caste by his political rivals as well as local media. This image helped him mobilise backward castes, Dalits and Muslims.
(IANS)
Firstly, it was sometimes in 1992 (soon after L K Advani's arrest) at a rally in Zila School Ground, Hazaribagh (south Bihar, now part of Jharkhand State). I can confirm that I heard from my ears the following words from Laloojee himself at that time, I was in BA First Year and everybody in the rally was laughing a lot.
"Bhura Baal Saaf Karo " and later Laloojee similing clarifying the meaning of the same.
Secondly, it is white lie from Laloojee that he never said anything relating to Hema Malini. Actually, he had said the following words:
"Patna ke road ko hum Hema Malini ke gaal ke tarah chikna bana dengay". For this remarks, Laloojee regretted when summoned by the local court and Hema's lawyer filed a defamation case at Patna Court. It is a well known fact. Laloojee said in Hindi at Vidhan Sabha, "Mujhai Khaid Hai Agar Kisi Ki Waiktigat Bhavna Ko Thais Pahunchi Ho Tu". Then how can he deny that?
Thirdly, it is known to me when he called SP, "Aaray SP". Not only Laloojee, his brother-in-laws Sadhu Yadav and other fat one, had no respect to any government officials including high profile police officers and due to that criminals were roaming around and state shows high growth of kidnapper gangs. Who can deny that??? Because these are facts, ultimately people of Bihar showed you your right way.
My suggestion would be to Laloojee, kindly concentrate on various railways projects announced for Bihar and other states should be implemented and completed with sincerity and honesty. This will only build your new image, rather than writing books and please keep yourself away from goons earlier roaming around side-by-side with you. The courage and effort towards turnaround of Railways is no doubt is appreciated, but please work for the betterment and development of Bihar and support Nitish babu honestly rather "rah mai rora atkaana".
Mohammad Yasar Imran
Muscat, Oman
imranmy786@gmail.com