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Paswan hints at new alternative to RJD

Senior Janata Dal leader Ram Vilas Paswan has hinted at forming a new political alternative to fight the corrupt practices of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Prasad Yadav .

Paswan said the alternative party could be formed only after the proposed Dalit Sena rally in Patna on April 14 to celebrate the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar. Prominent leaders, including Ajit Singh, Shakuni Chowdhury, Anand Mohan, Dr Jagannath Mishra and CPI leader Chaturanan Mishra were likely to attend the rally.

The JD leader said several Congressmen and leaders of other political parties were also inclined towards formation of the possible new alternative following the recent change in political equations leading to revocation of President's rule in the state.

When asked about his opinion on the decision of the party leadership in joining hands with Laloo Prasad Yadav, he said, ''Laloo's first priority is to wipe out the Janata Dal in the state which I will resist with all my strength even if the party's central leadership has different opinion in this matter''.

When asked if the Janata Dal decides to have electoral alliance with the RJD, Paswan said, ''In that case I would prefer to walk alone rather than to compromise with Laloo's anti-Dalit stand''.

The JD leader claimed that the Bihar JD workers were ready to sacrifice their lives rather than join hands with the RJD. Besides, the Janata Dal has the full support of the dalits, backwards and minorities and would emerge as a ''force'' in the state during the coming assembly elections, Paswan said.

Terming both the Congress and left parties as ''opportunist'' forces, he said these parties had supported the RJD which was responsible for casteism and rise in the influence of BJP in the state. ''If they really want to fight against communalism then they should have brought a no-confidence motion against the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre rather than to compromise with Yadav, a symbol of corruption in the country'', he added.

The former railway minister said he was fighting against Laloo's ''corrupt practices''. ''But this does not mean that we are against secularism. I don't need certificate from anyone on secularism as people know my commitments for the dalits and minorities'', he stated.

''I feel a person who is corrupt, cannot be secular and a person who is secular cannot have corrupt practices'', he said and added that ''a political party is only a weapon to achieve a target, but when I think the weapon has become useless, then I will like to throw it away''.

When asked about JD president Sharad Yadav's silence on his alleged weakness towards Laloo Prasad Yadav, Paswan said, ''I don't know the reasons of his silence. But I can say he will not support Yadav as Sharad Yadav had been severely humiliated in the past''.

UNI

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