Explaining his show of camaraderie for RJD chief Lalu Prasad at >Nitish Kumar’s swearing-in ceremony in Patna, Aam Aadmi Party convener >Arvind Kejriwal said that it was Mr. Prasad who hugged him.
At the National Council meeting on Monday, Mr. Kejriwal said Mr. Prasad was on stage when he went to congratulate Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. “Lalu Yadav shook hands, pulled me and hugged me. Held my hand and raised it. It was projected in a certain way and questions were asked,” he said.
The AAP National Council meeting takes place every six months and this time 177 members attended the meeting.
Mr. Kejriwal further clarified that the AAP had not formed an alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and was against Lalu Prasad’s record of corruption. “We’ll always oppose it. We are against his dynasty politics. His two sons are Ministers. We are against that too.” He said he had gone to Bihar only for Mr. Kumar.
Praising Mr. Kumar, the Delhi Chief Minister said he was a good man. The AAP worked against the BJP in Bihar and had supported Mr. Kumar. However, Mr. Kejriwal faced sharp criticism after pictures of him embracing Lalu Prasad, who was >convicted in the fodder scam , went viral. Expelled AAP leader Yogendra Yadav described it as a “shameful” act. “Political capital of the movement sold to symbols of political corruption. Ashamed!” he tweeted. He was criticised even on social media with many even posting his old tweet. “Laloo made crores in fodder scam. But no order for recovery of that money. Just 25 lakh fine and few years in jail. A sweet deal,” Mr. Kejriwal had tweeted on Oct. 3, 2013.
In Delhi, the BJP on Monday erected huge banners of Mr. Prasad and Mr. Kejriwal hugging each other.
