RJD Leader Demands Shunting of Rabri Devi
Patna: April 28, 2005
Before the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav could recover from the latest round of allegations made against him including being indicted once again in the fodder scam case, he was put on notice by his own party leaders who demanded removal of his wife and former Chief Minister Mrs. Rabri Devi from the list of party's Chief Ministerial candidates and instead promote a Muslim leader for the same post in case the RJD got the opportunity to form a new government in Bihar.
RJD general secretary and central minister Taslimuddin, on Wednesday, said that the interest of the community should come before personal interest and therefore, Lalu Yadav should put his money where his mouth is by bringing forward a Muslim candidate for the post of Chief Minister.
"This will bring the secular leaders together and make the party much stronger than what it is now," Taslimuddin said adding the RJD was the biggest party in the state the onus lies on it to take the initiative to form a new government in Bihar.
"If the presence of Rabri Devi is causing obstacles in the formation of a new government in the state, she should be replaced by some other leader, preferably from the Muslim community, which, in turn, would give the true color of secularism to the party," the RJD leader said.
Taslimuddin exhorted Lalu Prasad Yadav to make the supreme sacrifice and promote a Muslim leader from within the party for the post of Chief Minister. "This will only establish him as the true secular leader while also winning the confidence of Muslim voters," he said.
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