Date:31/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/31/stories/2007103158600100.htm

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Lalu denies criticising Shivraj Patil

New Delhi: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Tuesday night denied that he had criticised Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

Mr. Prasad said that he had never made any remarks against Mr. Patil or his handling of the naxalite problem, in the speech at a function organised by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.

Earlier, a report quoted him as saying: “Initially I wanted to become Home Minister or Defence Minister, who could handle the situation of riots or Maoists. A weak Home Minister cannot handle the Maoists who are fast spreading their activities from Chhattisgarh to the Nepal border.” — PTI