Lalu accuses BJP of colluding with criminals

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad today accused BJP of harbouring criminals, saying the saffron party was shielding people it earlier used to criticise.
"BJP is the creator of 'gunda raj' (rule of goons)... This can be seen in the difference in its words and actions. It now worships and protects such people whom it earlier used to criticise," Prasad said on social networking site Twitter.
He was hinting at the saffron party's hobnobbing with Madhepura MP and founder of Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, who was expelled from RJD a few months ago, as well as Amit Rana, son of R K Rana, a convict in the infamous fodder scam in the state.

Yadav has several criminal cases against him including the murder of CPI(M) MLA Ajit Sarkar in Purnia district in 1998 in which he was convicted by CBI court and awarded life sentence. He was later acquitted by the Patna High Court.
"BJP has no problem with musclemen, murderers, extortionists, the corrupt and people of criminal character provided such anti-social elements work on their side," Prasad commented.
Further attacking BJP, which is leading NDA against the secular 'grand alliance' of RJD, JD(U), Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) for the coming Assembly elections, Prasad said it was the largest party to give refuge to people having criminal background.

Earlier in the day, the RJD chief reviewed the preparations for 'Swabhiman Rally' on August 30 in Patna in which the party will jointly participate with JD(U) and Congress.
Prasad held a meeting with party officials and leaders on the occasion and exhorted them to stay united to face the BJP in the Assembly polls.