Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Cong demands Yadav's arrest over 'throw Rahul in Ganga' comment

Last updated on: October 26, 2010 14:42 IST
Sharad Yadav

An incensed Congress on Tuesday demanded the immediate arrest of Sharad Yadav for his remark against Rahul Gandhi and said the Janata Dal - United president had lost his mental balance.

"Yadav, by making such a personal attack against Rahul Gandhi, appears to have lost his mental balance, rather he has gone insane. I have received several SMSes from people that he should be assigned to a mental asylum in Agra," Minister of State for Petroleum Jitin Prasad told reporters at Patna on Tuesday.

State Congress spokesperson Prem Chandra Mishra said the party would not close the chapter here and would approach the Election Commission to seek the immediate arrest of Yadav for his alleged inflammatory speech against the party general secretary.

"It would be better if Chief Minister Nitish Kumar intervenes. He should advise Yadav to apologise for his remarks," he said.

JD-U defends Sharad Yadav

Last updated on: October 26, 2010 14:42 IST
Rahul Gandhi

Addressing an election meeting at Fatua on Sunday evening, Sharad Yadav had attacked the Gandhi-Nehru family, saying Rahul Gandhi should be thrown into the Ganga.

But Yadav told reporters on Tuesday morning that he had not made a 'categorical personal remark against anyone'.

"What I really meant during my speech was that the lantern, bungalow and panja (hand)-- election symbols of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Lok Janshakti Party and Congress -- be bundled together and thrown away in the Ganga because they are pursuing anti-people policies," he said.

Senior BJP and JD-U leaders have come to the defence of Yadav.

'Congress leaders can't understand Hindi'

Last updated on: October 26, 2010 14:42 IST
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and state Cooperative Minister Giriraj Singh claimed the JD-U leader had not made any personal attack against Rahul Gandhi.

"Sharad ji has already clarified his position and there is no need for further debate on it," Hussain said, alleging that the Congress leaders were "in the habit of making personal attacks against opponents".

Alleging that Gandhi lacked 'political vision', Bihar minister Giriraj Singh said Yadav was "very decent in his comment and it should not be construed as a personal attack".

RJD leader Prabhunath Singh even suggested that the Congress leaders "can't understand Hindi and take things differently from what they actually mean".

"We also used to say that the Nitish Kumar government has done precious little for the state and it should be thrown into the Ganga," he said, adding "people should go by the spirit of the statement instead of a giving it a twist".