Team Anna like dictators, they want lock put on Parliament: Lalu

Taking a swipe at the Congress for having "recognised" only one from many civil society organisations and "assuring" it of a Lokpal Bill, Lalu called Team Anna "confirmed dictators" who "want a lock put on Parliament" and said it was the duty of MPs to guard the House.

Speaking to Shekhar Gupta, Editor-in-Chief of The Indian Express on NDTV 24x7's Walk the Talk programme, Lalu said: "The CBI is a premier agency. But they (Team Anna) are going to make the Lokpal a superpower. Under the IPC, any case investigated by a police inspector will go to court, and they (Team Anna) say it should be reported to the Lokpal. This will destroy the law of the land."

"I am in favour of giving autonomy to the CBI."

The RJD chief opposed the demand to bring the Prime Minister under the Lokpal. "It is the Prime Minister who will be appointing the Lokpal and he will be tried by the Lokpal. What kind of a democratic set-up are we creating?"

"I am not saying that I won't let it (Lokpal Bill) be passed. I am not a dictator. But his (Anna Hazare's) team is... looks like confirmed dictators... Team Anna wants a lock put on Parliament. But it is our (MPs) duty to guard it."

He attacked Hazare's aides. "Anna Hazare is an old man, a nice man and a gullible man. While Kiran Bedi tells him one thing, Arvind Kejriwal tells him another. If I say Ranchi, they (Team Anna members) will tell him I referred to Karachi."

Lalu did not mince words in also criticising the Congress for creating a situation where the civil society is dictating terms to Parliament.

"The Congress brought the Bill in haste. They recognised civil society and assured them about bringing the Bill. When did this civil society get elected? There are so many civil societies in this country... Boya ped babool ka, toh aam kahan se hoga (if you plant a thorny bush, how will you pluck mangoes from it)."

He claimed there was an "international conspiracy" to destabilise India in the name of the fight against corruption. He referred to "organised revolts in many Muslim countries" and claimed he had "evidence" but was "not in a position to say anything at this stage".

Underlining that he was a product of anti-graft JP movement, Lalu said it was Team Anna's right to agitate on the streets but drew a distinction between the JP movement and the one led by Hazare. He said MPs needed no lessons from Team Anna.

"In a democracy, everyone has the right to raise issues in a peaceful manner. JP said no violence. They (Team Anna) tell people to hold dharnas outside houses of MPs. Rahul ko ghero, Sonia ko ghero. This was never the guiding principle of the JP movement," he said.

"I was in jail under MISA. During the JP movement, our slogan too was 'bhrashtachar mitana hai, naya desh banana hai'. When I was in jail, where was (Arvind) Kejriwal... Kiran Bedi danda chala rahi hogi us samay (must have been wielding the stick)."

He said each of the 543 Lok Sabha members should be allowed to participate in the debate on the Lokpal and suggest amendments before passing the Bill.

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