Railway Minister Lalu Prasad offered to shed the National Security Guard (NSG) cover, provided senior BJP leader L K Advani also does the same.

"I will give up my NSG cover if L K Advani is also prepared to do so," Lalu said at state RJD headquarter where he was to attend a function on the occasion of the death anniversary of B R Ambedkar.

Ridiculing a comment made by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who had said that NSG security had become a ‘status symbol’ and many ‘undeserving’ people were enjoying it, the RJD chief said Kumar, ‘should go and speak to Advani if he is ready to shed his security.’

Later, reacting to the statement of Railway Minister, Kumar said that the NSG commandos should not be deployed for the safety of individuals.

"When there is a move to reorganise the elite force, enhance its strength and deploy them at various places across the country, its commandos should not not be deputed to protect individuals, who can be guarded by other agencies of the Centre and state governments," Kumar said on the sidelines of a conference of Mahadalits.

Taking a dig at his bete noire, Kumar said, "why you people (media) seek my reaction to everything Laluji says. He is a man who gives 24 bytes to the media in 24 hours, how can I react to all those."