As Lalu blames BJP for his plight, set back for Cong-led opposition?

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New Delhi, Jan 7 2018 (DHNS):  Even as the BJP saw a big setback for the Congress-led opposition ahead of the next Lok Sabha polls in the conviction of Lalu Prasad Yadav in yet another fodder scam case, the Congress said the party is in alliance with the RJD, and not any "particular individual".

"Congress has always waged war against corruption. As far as the alliance is concerned, it is with RJD and not particular individuals," said former Union minister RPN Singh in remarks seen as seeking to distance the party from corruption-tainted former Bihar chief minister but backing his party.

Singh, however, echoed what Lalu said after his conviction as to why only those opposed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP were in trouble.

Lalu Prasad on Saturday said that rather than practicing BJP’s rule, he would die for social justice. RJD chief’s son Tejashwi said "the BJP-RSS combine is scared of Lalu even while he is in jail and is doing all that it can to silence his voice."

BJP’s current ally, JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said, "This will prove to be a historic decision in Bihar politics. It is the end of a chapter."

The central BJP leadership left it to Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi to fend off attacks on the party. Modi rubbished the "conspiracy" allegation levelled by the RJD against his party in connection with Prasad’s conviction by the court.

"In the PIL filed in the Patna High Court, Shivanand Tiwary (who is now with Lalu), Lalan Singh and I had levelled the charges against Lalu Prasad with solid evidence. By awarding punishment to him, the court has upheld our charges," Sushil Kumar said.

"They (RJD leaders) should recall the political affiliations of former Bihar governor A R Kidwai, the then prime minister H D Deve Gowda and the then joint director of CBI U N Biswas."

"Kidwai, who gave the permission to lodge cases, was a staunch Congressman. Gowda owed his rise to the prime minister’s position to Prasad’s support. And Biswas, who took the investigation to its logical conclusion as a CBI officer, is now a senior leader of the Trinamool Congress," Sushil Kumar said.