`Don’t compare me to Laloo’

AURANGABAD, July 27: ``Please don't compare me with Laloo,'' said Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi in his inimitable style while po...

AURANGABAD, July 27: “Please don’t compare me with Laloo,” said Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi in his inimitable style while poking fun at Laloo Prasad Yadav who resigned as Bihar chief minister and installed his wife, Rabri Devi in his place.

Joshi was talking to mediapersons here last night after a meeting with deputy inspector general, commissioner, collectors, tehasildars, ministers and other officials to review the situation that arose after the desecration of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s bust at Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar in Ghatkopar in Mumbai. The meeting was also convened to discuss the water scarcity prevailing in Marathwada due to scanty rainfall. While the opposition demanded the dismissal of the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party Government in Maharashtra following the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, the ruling party leaders demanded the dismissal of the Bihar government.

In this context, a scribe drew his attention towards the new Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, Laloo Prasad’s wife, and asked whether the Maharashtra Chief Minister would follow Laloo’s foot steps. Joshi replied that the law and order situation in Bihar was worse than Maharashtra and that comparisons with Laloo was unnecessary.

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Joshi said that a new legislation would be made to check the mushrooming of statues of great personalities.

An all-party meeting would be held in Mumbai on August 18 to elicit views on the enactment of the new law.

Regarding the tremendous response to Arun Gawli’s Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS), especially from the younger generation who were engaged in opening ABS branches in the state, the Chief Minister said he was not against opening of branches, but opposed criminalisation in politics. “Besides, ABS is a phase which will be wiped out soon,” he remarked.

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