Will get PM skinned, says Lalu's son Tej Pratap

A day after the Centre decided to downgrade former chief minister Lalu Prasad's security, the RJD chief's elder son Tej Pratap threatened the Prime Minister and made uncharitable remarks against him.

"Lalu ji has to travel a lot. If any untoward incident occurs following withdrawal of his security cover, we will get the Prime Minister skinned. 'Khaal udhadwa lenge' (Will get him skinned)....Go and tell him," an agitated Tej Pratap, who was earlier health minister in Nitish's Grand Alliance Government, told reporters here on Monday.

Lalu Prasad, whose security cover has been downgraded from Z+ to Z category and the NSG cover withdrawn, did not reprimand his son.

Instead, he said that if he was killed, then the Centre and the State Government should be held responsible.

"Agar mujhe kuch hua toh Modi aur Nitish jawabdeh honge. (If something happens to me, then Narendra Modi and Nitish should be held responsible," said Lalu.

The UPA regime had provided Z+ security cover to Lalu in view of threat perception to the RJD leader. However, on Sunday, the Centre, after review of security cover of several politicians, decided to withdraw Lalu's NSG cover.

"First, they (Modi-led BJP) decided to implicate me and my family in false cases of corruption. When nothing came out of it, they have now decided to downgrade my security cover. It's a larger design by the BJP to 'finish off' Opposition leaders," averred Lalu and added he won't be cowed down "unlike Nitish who surrendered before Narendra Modi in July."

The BJP, however, blasted Tej Pratap for unsavoury remarks. "Either Tej Pratap should be booked for offensive comments or sent to mental hospital," said Union Minister Ashwani Choubey.