Date:21/10/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/10/21/stories/2005102110001200.htm

Other States - Bihar

RJD leaders treat law with contempt: BJP

Special Correspondent

Urges the Election Commission to be vigilant about "repeated" violations in Bihar

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday asked the Election Commission to be more vigilant about "repeated" violations of the model code of conduct by the Rashtriya Janata Dal leaders, particularly Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, in Bihar.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told newspersons here that the Commission had issued notice to Mr. Lalu Prasad for campaigning in a vehicle without a number plate. It had also issued notice to the former Bihar Chief Minister, Rabri Devi, for travelling in a cavalcade of 30 cars to file her nomination from the Raghopur Assembly segment against the permitted three. Also, the Bihar police on Wednesday arrested Surendra Prasad Yadav, RJD candidate from Belaganj, for carrying illegal firearms.

"This has been the attitude of the RJD leaders. Absolute contempt for the law."

On the Election Commission's notice to Lok Jan Shakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan for "using religion to gather votes," Mr. Javadekar said it was an irony that people who spoke for the majority community were termed communal. On the other hand, those who spoke for castes and followed "caste politics" were portrayed as secular. Mr. Paswan has promised a Muslim Chief Minister for Bihar if voted to power.

The BJP leader condemned the statement of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Digvijay Singh, accusing the Commission of "targeting" an individual [Lalu Prasad]. This was reprehensible because the poll panel was the most impartial body in the country, he said.