Beware of sting operations, Lalu tells party legislators

RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Tuesday cautioned his party MLAs to be careful of sting operations.

He was addressing the newly elected party legislators here in the state capital.
“You people are novice. But this is Patna. Here, many self-styled MDs and CMDs keep roaming around boasting of their connections. Chances are they may trap you. So do not favour anyone unnecessarily,” sermoned Lalu, in his first formal interaction with the RJD MLAs.

“Avoid using your letter-head unnecessarily. Use it judiciously or else you may land in trouble,” Lalu said.

The RJD president had a word of advice for those MLAs too, who, on Monday, tried to forcibly occupy the legislators’ quarters and bungalows.

“When I became the chief minister for the first time in 1990, I stayed in the chaprasi (peon) quarters for four months before shifting to CM’s residence. (Lalu’s brother was a peon in Animal Husbandry Department and Lalu stayed at his kin’s place for a while). You should exercise restraint. Once the Speaker is elected, each of you will get a separate quarter,” suggested Lalu, asking the MLAs not to do fighting for house.

He also asked the legislators to behave properly with the police and other officers. “Don’t bully anyone. As an elected representative, you have enormous power within the House. You can raise your point within the Assembly and punish the guilty officers. But don’t berate anyone in public,” Lalu advised.

The RJD chief’s sermon came a day after his party MLA Arun Yadav tried to forcibly occupy former JD(U) legislator Manjit Singh’s house on Monday. Another MLA from Barhahra, Saroj Yadav was reported to have threatened a police officer Kunwar Gupta with dire consequences for not adhering to his request.