Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday termed the ruling coalition in Bihar — made up of the Janata Dal (U), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress — as a coalition “designed to protect the corrupt” after a court refused to stay an Income Tax probe in the National Herald case and a controversial land deal allegedly involving RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his family members.
Mr. Prasad said the BJP would like the Central government to probe a tainted land deal allegedly involving Mr. Lalu Prasad and his daughter and Rajya Sabha MP Misa Bharti, and sought action against Ms. Bharti for reportedly not disclosing her property details in her election affidavit.
Mr. Prasad’s allegations against both Mr. Lalu Prasad and the Gandhis were also aimed at questioning the efforts at oppositional unity around a common presidential candidate for the polls slated in July this year.
He demanded that Janata Dal (U) leader Sharad Yadav and CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, explain whether the alliance was meant to serve the people or individuals involved in corruption cases.
Published - May 13, 2017 12:43 am IST
