Laloo brought to book, loses role model status in Bihar

In fact all the major names in the present government swear by the name of socialist leader Karpoori Thakur and take pride in calling themselves as political disciples of the backward leader.

‘‘We will soon review and replace the chapter with a personality who can be a real inspiration for the students of Bihar,’’ the minister said. He even mentioned the name of Dalit activist Jyotiba Phule as a possible replacement. The textbook in question was edited by Rambachan Rai, an RJD MLC, and the suspect chapter written by bureaucrat Harivash Narayan. Just before the polls Narayan was the District Development Commissioner (DDC) of Vaishali.

He was removed by the EC after it came to its notice that he had written the chapter dealing with Laloo, included in the book in 1993-94.

The portion of the chapter dealing with Laloo terms the RJD leader as the messiah of the poor who came to fill the vacuum after the demise of the two leaders. Praising Laloo copiously, the chapter compares him with Gandhi and Nehru. ‘‘Like Gandhi and Nehru the society has built a new relationship with Laloo—that of Laloo Bhaiya,’’ goes the comparison. Another line says, ‘‘Lalooji’s entire life is an open book. His personality is a powerful magnet, which attracts crowd from all corners of the country.’’

Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi of the BJP felt it was farcical to compare Laloo with Mahatma Gandhi. In the past too Modi had raised strong objections to this chapter.

Though the RJD is terming it as an act of political vendetta, the party refrained from raising the issue in the state Assembly today. Instead the RJD created a ruckus in the House protesting against the treatment being meted out to infamous party MP Mohammad Shahabuddin in Bhagalpur jail. When asked about the subject, former CM Rabri Devi refrained from reacting to the proposed deletion.