Laloo storms into 'alien' territory

By K. Balchand

HAZARIBAGH, NOV. 25. The showman was at his best and came up with a perfect show, in the process turning the tables and the heat on his political adversaries as he stormed into the `alien' territory of Jharkhand today.

The former Chief Minister and RJD president, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, rode into Jharkhand in his Garib Chetna Rath leading a cavalcade of several thousand vehicles ahead of his surrender before the Designated CBI Court tomorrow. Thousands of arches greeted the 20 km. long caravan.

Mr. Yadav made the most of an adverse situation and took the battle into the enemy camp. His charisma stood him in good stead once again with the people dotting the 400 km. route, showering flowers and garlands on him. The roads were virtually strewn with marigolds. And as he entered the tribal belt, the Adivasis were there with their dancing troupes, drums and trumpets.

Not for once did it appear that the land had deserted him after it was carved out of Bihar and created into a new State almost a year ago. He continued to mesmerise the people who thronged to listen to him. He played the true role of a pied piper.

Mr. Yadav's style boosted the morale of his party workers, even as it left his political opponents, particularly the BJP fretting and fuming.

But the Babu Lal Marandi Government was upto the task extending the courtesy required of it. While it granted State guest status to several Ministers, the security arrangement was unprecedented for Mr. Yadav, as most of the region was naxalite affected. The Jharkhand Government had also taken extra precaution in the wake of the Jharkhand and Bihar bandh call of the MCC tomorrow.

But all that did not affect Mr. Yadav's aggressiveness against the BJP. Nor was he overwhelmed by the parting scenes at his residence in Patna. ``As a wife I feel sad that sahib is going away from us for the time being. I wanted to go to Ranchi but sahib dissuaded me from doing so,'' was the Chief Minister, Ms. Rabri Devi's emotional remark.

Mr. Yadav received moral support from his allies - the Congress and the Left parties with senior leaders turning up at his residence to see him off. These leaders viewed his rath yatra as a political victory with the BJP being pushed into a corner.

He lashed out against the Centre more than at the Jharkhand Chief Minister even as he left it to the people to ponder whether they were better off now or earlier. ``The Centre sits over your minerals and denies your dues in the form of royalty. And whatever money is there is being carted away to Uttar Pradesh to fight the coming Assembly elections there.'' The RJD president alleged that the BJP was conspiring against him to settle scores. ``I will quit politics if the charges were proved against me,'' he said. He saw an attempt to pull down the Rabri Devi Government while he happened to be in jail if the designated court did not grant him bail tomorrow. He was however hopeful of being released on bail.

While he did not spare the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, Mr. Yadav's attack was against the Union Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, as he passed through his Lok Sabha constituency of Hazaribagh, and that of the Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes.

Guest house converted into jail

RANCHI, NOV. 25. The Jharkhand Government has converted a guest house here into a jail to lodge the RJD chief, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, in case his bail plea is rejected by the special CBI court before which he is to surrender tomorrow.

The State Government, in a notification on Saturday, converted the Kanke-based bacon factory guest house into a jail for the purpose. However, the Director-General of Police, Mr. T.P. Sinha, said the treatment meted out to Mr. Yadav, after he surrenders in connection with case no. RC47(A) of the multi-crore fodder scam, would be as per the directive of the court.

He said elaborate security cover will be provided to the former Bihar Chief Minister, who enjoys Z-plus status provided to him by the Centre.

Asked whether the Government would allow the entry of the huge cavalcade following Mr. Yadav to Ranchi, Mr. Sinha said the Government had already advised the RJD chief not to allow vehicles and supporters to follow him during his journey to Jharkhand.

He said this advice was to ``ensure proper security to Mr. Yadav and the VIPs accompanying him. However, now that he is arriving here with his huge cavalcade and a trail of supporters, arrangements are being made to prevent any traffic disruptions across the city during his movement to the CBI special court tomorrow.''

Police stations throughout the State have been alerted as Mr. Yadav's surrender coincides with a 12-hour state-wide bandh called by Naxalite outfits, the MCC and the PWG, to protest U.S. air strikes in Afghanistan.

- PTI

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