Rajnath Singh Criticizes Lalu Prasad Over Ambedkar Incident

Patna, Jul 2 (PTI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday strongly criticized RJD president Lalu Prasad for what he termed as an "insult" to Babasaheb Ambedkar, describing the act as more than just a mistake but indicative of a "mindset of disrespect for Dalits".

The remarks were delivered by Singh at the BJP's state executive meeting in Patna, a significant event in light of the upcoming assembly polls in Bihar. Singh accused Lalu Prasad of having a portrait of Ambedkar placed at his feet, describing this act as not merely a trivial error but as revealing a feudal mindset that disrespects Dalits despite being masked as socialism.

This incident has sparked controversy as Lalu Prasad faces heat over a video in which Ambedkar's portrait was observed near his feet during his 78th birthday celebration when visitors came to greet him. In a recent rally in Siwan district, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the RJD leader, suggesting he would not be forgiven by the people of Bihar or the country. Meanwhile, the RJD has clarified that the portrait was held by a supporter, attributing the controversy to the "camera angle".

Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal indicated that a resolution condemning Lalu Prasad would be passed at the state's executive meeting. Rajnath Singh, speaking for over an hour as the event's chief guest, also accused Lalu Prasad of hypocrisy. Singh alleged that Prasad, despite claiming to be a follower of OBC icon Karpoori Thakur, used disrespectful language against him in private, a claim purportedly documented in the book 'Brothers Bihari' by journalist Sankarshan Thakur.

Singh further criticized Lalu Prasad for not commemorating Karpoori Thakur during his tenure, pointing out that it was actually Narendra Modi who awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously to the luminary from Bihar. The BJP leader underscored the importance of recounting past events to ensure that the youth are aware of the alleged failures of the RJD-Congress alliance. He likened RJD's symbol of the lantern to a force destructive rather than constructive.

Singh also touted the progress made by Bihar under the leadership of NDA, with Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar at the helm, citing this era as a time of not only economic growth but also a revival of Bihar's former prestige. Singh noted the international recognition of this progress, highlighting that 'The Economist', which once disparaged Bihar, had to acknowledge its transformation in later reports.