Rabri Devi richer than husband Lalu Prasad

However, his wife Rabri Devi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, has assets worth Rs 63 lakh, while their nine children have land holdings valued at Rs 57.7 lakh. And, the figures are not imaginary.

It’s an official document which has been submitted to the Lok Sabha secretariat a couple of days back, soon after the RJD chief was reprimanded by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar for not furnishing the information about his assets and liabilities within the stipulated time-period.

Cash and savings

The details submitted by Lalu, who won his first Lok Sabha election in 1977 from Chapra, suggests that the RJD supremo, in his 33-year-long political career, has amassed cash and savings worth Rs 12.11 lakh. Besides, he owns two vehicles—an old Maruti car (worth Rs 15,000) and a military jeep worth Rs 10,000. Rabri is also the owner of 60 cows and 36 calves worth Rs 10 lakh. And, as far as cash and bank deposits are concerned, Rabri has double the amount as against Lalu’s 12.11 lakh. Her deposits with banks, financial institutions and non-banking financial companies grosses over Rs 24 lakh. This excludes her agricultural land worth Rs 34.5 lakh and non-agricultural land worth Rs 28.5 lakh.

“The disclosure made by Laluji in his affidavit on the eve of parliamentary poll has been attached with the details (of assets) submitted to the Lok Sabha secretariat,” a close aide of the RJD strongman said in Patna. Speaker Meira Kumar had last week expressed her displeasure over the non-filing of details regarding assets and liabilities by 51 MPs drawn from different parties, including the RJD, and asked them to furnish the details at the earliest.

According to the rules, a member of Parliament is required to submit the information related to his assets and liabilities within 90 days of his taking oath. But when these 51 MPs (from the Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party, Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam, Trinamool Congress and RJD) did not adhere to the norms, the Speaker warned them that “willful contravention of the rules could be dealt with in the same manner as a breach of privilege of the House.”

Notice from EC

Meanwhile, the Election Commission too has served a notice on Lalu asking him to furnish details about 2009 Lok Sabha poll expenditure. The commission has directed the RJD president to submit the details by April 29 or else face action under the provisions of the Election Symbols Reservation and Allotment Order, 1968.