RJD legislature party reposes faith in Lalu

"This meeting of RJD legislature party expresses unflinching faith in the leadership of party president Lalu Prasad and our leader in the state legislature Rabri Devi. It vows to highlight the issues of public concern forcefully in the legislature and wage a decisive battle for the respect of the poor, backwards and the minorities," a resolution adopted at the meeting said.

The meeting, the first one after the shocking defeat in the elections, identified split in secular votes as the foremost reason for the electoral reverses, but felt that its support base remained intact.

Addressing the meeting, Lalu asked party legislators, both within and outside the legislature, to highlight the problems faced by the people under the state's National Democratic Alliance's dispensation headed by Nitish Kumar.

"Victory and defeat are natural in electoral politics, but we should never forget our duty towards the people. Let us renew our commitment to fulfilling our duty to the people of Bihar," Lalu said.

Stating that RJD had always strengthened secularism and never compromised its ideology even in adverse situations, Lalu said he was not shaken by the outcome of the polls as those committed to principles of social justice and secularism were still with his party.

He announced that a meeting of district, block and panchayat presidents would be held in Patna on June 20 to discuss measures for strengthening the organisation at the grassroots level.

Workers conferences will be held at divisional level between June 27 and August 2 which would be addressed by him to establish effective communication with the party's 'vast support base', he said.

The resolution accused the Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United government of having failed to rein in crime and corruption.

"Incidents of loot, rape, kidnapping for ransom and murder are rampant and people are being deprived of even basic amenities like clean drinking water, electricity and medicine. Corruption prevails in the administration and voices of protest are being stifled," it said.