Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday sought to play down Mulayam Singh Yadav’s outbursts and decided not to make any “derogatory remarks” on the comments following the Samajwadi Party chief’s attacks after his party exited the secular alliance.
“I have directed my party men and also that of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar [JD-U] not to make any derogatory remarks on any statement of SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav,” Mr. Prasad told reporters.
He is my ‘samdhi’
“Mulayam Singhjee is not only a tall leader but also my ‘samdhi.’ We share ‘beti-roti’ [daughter and bread] relationship with each other,” Mr. Prasad, whose daughter is married to Mr. Yadav’s grandnephew, said.
“Being his ‘samdhi’, if he [Mr. Yadav] gets more angry, we will give him a yellow dhoti [worn during time to marriage],” he said in a lighter vein.
Asked to comment on the SP chief’s barbs at Mr. Kumar questioning his secular credentials after remaining with the BJP for 12 years, Mr. Prasad said: “I have already said we will not react to the SP chief’s remarks.”
Caution is the word
Mr. Kumar too spoke cautiously on Mulayam Singh Yadav.
“JD(U) president Sharad Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad made sincere efforts to keep the SP in the Janata Parivar but the efforts did not bear fruits ... the Samajwadi Party took a decision [not to be part of grand secular alliance],” he said.
After days of high drama, the SP had last week formally bid adieu to the JD(U) and the RJD, its two prominent associates in the Janata Parivar accusing Mr. Kumar in particular for “tilt” towards the Congress.
