Chargesheeted, Laloo seeks recall of Governor

NEW DELHI, JUNE 9: While the special CBI judge framed charges against Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and her husband, Laloo Prasad Yadav,...

NEW DELHI, JUNE 9: While the special CBI judge framed charges against Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and her husband, Laloo Prasad Yadav, in the disproportionate assets case last week, the Rashtriya Janata Dal RJD supremo sought to take the battle with his political opponents to New Delhi by demanding recall of Governor Vinod Chandra Pande. He also rejected the Opposition demand for his wife8217;s resignation.

Accompanied by his trusted lieutenants Prem Chand Gupta and Shivanand Tewari 8212; the latter, interestingly, was one of the leaders instrumental in uncovering the fodder scam 8212; Laloo met President K.R. Narayanan and submitted a memorandum seeking Pande8217;s recall. A copy of the memorandum was later handed over to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during a meeting lasting for over an hour at 7, Race Course Road.

Never one to lose his wit and humour, Laloo rejected the Opposition demand for Rabri Devi8217;s resignation following the framing of charges against her in the DA case. Taking refuge in Indian mythology by citing the instances of Sita and Draupadi, he said: 8220;Jab jab nari par apman hua hai, aisa karne waale logon ka khatma hua ha whenever atrocities have been committed against women, the perpetrators of the crime have been penalised by society.8221;

Observing that Rabri8217;s name had been included in the chargesheet at the Governor8217;s insistence soon after the NDA government led by Nitish Kumar had been defeated on the floor of the Bihar Assembly, Laloo accused him Pande of compelling the CBI to make his wife a co-accused in the case.

He also charged the Governor with conspiring with 8220;forces in New Delhi8221; to harass the couple, but he refused to identify these forces saying, 8220;yeh sab patrakaron ka kaam hai

8221; it is the work of journalists.

He charged the Governor with 8220;undermining8221; the Constitution and 8220;murdering8221; democracy by inviting Nitish to form the government when he did not have the people8217;s mandate.

Responding to a question on whether Rabri should follow his example by resigning from office following the framing of charges against her, he said: 8220;There is a legal procedure. Unless and until one is proved guilty by the highest court of the land, the person is presumed innocent.8221;