Laloo hits bull’s eye with BJP’s shotgun

ARUN SRIVASTAVA

PATNA, OCTOBER 18: A WEEK may be a long time in politics, but BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha has discovered that equations and opinions can change in just one day. Even as Sinha ducks flak for suggesting that if George Fernandes could be reinducted as Defence minister, Laloo Prasad Yadav too could return as Bihar’s chief minister too, Laloo has moved quickly to score points over the BJP.

Laloo has announced that the Bihar government will confer Sinha with the state’s highest honour, the ‘‘Bihar Gaurav’’. He described the man he had dismissed as a lowly ‘nachania-gawania (nautch boy)’ a couple of years ago as ‘‘our pride’’. ‘‘We should have acknowledged his contribution before itself. Anyway, it’s never too late. We will confer Bihar Gaurav on Sinha after the Durga Puja.’’

Laloo also used the occasion to rub salt on some old wounds. ‘‘Poor Sinha played such a crucial role in the formation of the BJP government. It was primarily due to him that the BJP could win a number of Lok Sabha seats. But his party shunted him aside. and now plan to throw him out. He is welcome to join the RJD. After all, he is a ghar ka ladka.’’

Laloo was even spotted at the staging of Sinha’s play, Pati, Patni aur Main, on Wednesday evening in Patna. For good measure, he turned out with his whole family: there was Rabri Devi, his sons and daughters and son-in-law. He extended an invitation to Sinha to visit his residence before the actor left for Mumbai. And waited for him to arrive. Sinha didn’t oblige though, and sent other members of the cast to Yadav’s 1, Anne Marg home instead.

Sinha clarified before leaving Patna for Mumbai that he had ‘‘nothing against Fernandes’’. ‘‘He is a respected and reputed leader. Whoever took my statement as proof of my so-called frustration is mistaken. I am in the BJP and will continue to be in the BJP.’’

But the storm caused by Sinha’s remarks continues to brew in Bihar. Samata Party leader and Union Railway Minister felt that the manner in which Sinha heaped praise on Laloo smacked of an understanding between the two. While Samata general secretary Lalan Singh said: ‘‘It is really strange that Sinha has compared George with Laloo Prasad and Jayalalitha, both of whom are accused in scams. Instead of directing his anger against Fernandes, he should have fought against his party leaders. After all, it’s an inner-party matter.’’.