Soon after the CBI raided the premises of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad and his family members in connection with alleged irregularities in awarding the tender for the maintenance of two hotels in Ranchi and Puri on Friday morning, media persons started gathering outside the gate of 10, Circular Road in Patna, which is the official residence of Rabri Devi, Mr. Prasad’s wife.
It was reminiscent of the fodder scam days in 1996 when the CBI raided Mr. Prasad’s residence when he was the Chief Minister of Bihar.
However, Mr. Prasad left for Ranchi on Thursday to appear before a special CBI court in connection with a fodder scam case.
Mr. Prasad’s sons, Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav and Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav, and Ms. Devi were present in the house.
No family member stepped outside to brief the media. Party spokesperson Pragati Mehta was waiting outside, trying to get some information.
“Its all a ploy to keep our leader Lalu Prasad under pressure. The BJP is behind all this as he has been advocating against fascist forces”, Mr Mehta told The Hindu outside the gate.
Later, more police were called in to maintain order at the gate.
Amid these developments, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar left for Rajgir in Nalanda district on Thursday to take rest as he hasn’t been well for sometime. Mr Kumar has called all top officials, including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and party spokespersons to Rajgir to mull over the CBI raid.
On July 5, while addressing party leaders and workers, the RJD chief asked them what they would do if he was sent to jail and promptly told them, “every party worker will have to become Lalu Prasad”. “They [the BJP] want to send me to jail and I want to get them out of power”, he said at the party’s 21st foundation day meeting.
Senior State BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi had alleged irregularities but Mr. Prasad had refuted all allegations and said everything was done as per rules and regulations.
