Lalu Prasad dares Modi as police file FIR

RJD chief says he will continue to speak up for backward castes, Dalits and the poor,

BJP workers protesting outside the party office in Patna against distribution ofticket on Tuesday. Photo: Ranjeet Kumar

Even as the Vaishali police on Tuesday filed an FIR, on the direction of the Election Commission, against Lalu Prasad for his “casteist” remarks at an election rally, the RJD chief remained unfazed, saying that even if Prime Minister Narendra Modi petitioned the U.N. against him, he would continue to speak up for the backward castes, Dalits and the poor.

The controversy stems from Mr. Lalu Prasad’s remarks at a public meeting at Terasia in Raghopur of Vaishali district on Sunday last. He had said the Yadavs should stand “united” as the Assembly polls marked a “battle between the backward and forward castes.”

“Let Mr. Modi file a petition in the U.N. against me or they can even hang me, but I’ll continue my battle for the backward castes, Dalits and the poor,” he said.

Criticises RSS

Mr. Lalu Prasad also criticised the RSS, the BJP’s ideological mentor. “The RSS is an organisation of Brahmins and Mr. Modi should confer the Bharat Ratna on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for suggesting an end to reservation.”

Breach of EC's guidelines

The Election Commission took cognisance of the remarks on Monday. It said: “The remarks were a breach of the Election Commission’s guidelines and the EC would like to get it investigated under its legal framework.”

“Bereft of any agenda, Mr. Lalu Prasad is trying to foment a caste conflict through his casteist remarks, but he will not succeed,” senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said.