Date:31/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/31/stories/2005013104021100.htm

Other States - Bihar

Lalu condemns Gaya incident

By Our Special Correspondent

PATNA, JAN. 30. The Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, today condemned yesterday's Gaya incident in which the helicopter ferrying the former Bharatiya Janata Party chief, M. Venkaiah Naidu, was set ablaze, and said it did not reflect the law and order situation in the State.

Mr. Prasad said the helicopter was not attacked as part of any conspiracy. Even he could have gone through the same plight were his aircraft to make an emergency landing in a remote village like Pararia, particularly in the light of the call by naxalites to boycott the elections and the threat issued to all those involved in the poll process.