Lalu plays safe

While UPA heavyweights Lalu Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan usually take every opportunity to target the saffron brigade, they exercised caution on the Karkare controversy, realising that the Mumbai attack was different from the Batla House encounter. At one point, Lalu seemed sympathetic towards Antulay. He was quoted telling mediapersons outside Parliament that all Antulay was demanding was an inquiry to clear certain doubts on who sent Karkare and the other police officers towards Cama Hospital. Within minutes, news channels started flashing: 8220;Lalu defends Antulay8221;. When this was brought to his notice, a perturbed Lalu wanted the news withdrawn. So the statement was immediately denied.