BJP criticises Opposition’s V-P candidate meeting Lalu Prasad, alleges hypocrisy

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday objected to the Opposition’s vice-presidential candidate, Supreme Court judge Justice (retired) B. Sudershan Reddy’s meeting with Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad, calling it a “hypocrisy in the extreme” given that he spoke about “saving the country’s soul”.

At a press conference, BJP MP and spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said: “We respect all the judges a lot, whether they are sitting or retired. However, when a judge comes into the electoral arena and talks about some big things, then questions will be raised.”

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Citing a news report, Mr. Prasad said: “His statement today has been printed in a newspaper. ‘Vote for me to save the soul of the nation: Opposition VP pick’. And many big things have been said to ‘save the conscience’ of the country...he has released a video, and look, to save the soul of the country, whom is he meeting? Lalu Prasad. Lalu Prasad is convicted in the fodder scam.”

Stating that Mr. Lalu Prasad was chargesheeted in another case, Mr. Prasad said: “He is not even a voter [in the vice-presidential election], as he is not a member of Parliament. Are you talking about restoring the soul of the country then? It is hypocrisy. From the party platform today, we are exposing your hypocrisy...he is chargesheeted in the land-for-railway jobs case...so, Justice Sudershan Reddy, please do not talk about conscience and do not talk about saving the country’s soul. It is hypocrisy in the extreme. We condemn it outright.”

Slams Congress chief

Mr. Prasad, during the press conference, accused Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge of insulting a Karnataka farmer in distress due to his ruined crop. The farmer had approached Mr. Kharge with his grievance. “It shows that the Congress does not take the suffering of farmers seriously. On the other hand, the Modi government has reduced Goods and Services Tax, providing direct benefits to the common man, including farmers, and made fertilizers and everyday essentials cheaper,” he said.

Turning to Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi, the BJP leader questioned his absence at a time when the farmers were suffering due to rains and floods. “Where is Rahul Gandhi these days, who makes big claims about farmers? It would have been good if he went to Karnataka and Punjab, where farmers are devastated because of floods and rains. But he is busy vacationing. This exactly is expected from a ‘casual politician’,” said Mr. Prasad.

The BJP leader accused Mr. Gandhi of “playing with the public and making fools of them”. “The BJP will make this a major issue in Bihar. The deceit and fraudulent politics of the Congress will no longer be allowed to influence people...the essence of all these issues is clear: the Congress engages only in deception, fraud, and vote-bank politics. If the public is misled, they will respond, and a response will always come,” Mr. Prasad said.