Prove allegations or apologise, Lalu tells Bardhan

The CPI leader has 8216;defamed8217; MPs of all parties and 8216;assassinated their character8217;, Prasad said adding, 8216;he should either prove his allegations or apologise8217;.

Spewing more venom on the CPI general secretary, he said, 8220;The country will never forgive Bardhan. He has defamed parliamentary democracy. His allegations are a conspiracy to destroy the very foundations of democracy.8221;

The RJP parliamentary party meeting saw 21 of its 24 MPs in attendance. Prasad said all RJD members, including the two jailed MPs Pappu Yadav and Mohammed Shahabuddin, will vote for the UPA during the trust vote. Other than the two, another MP Sitaram Yadav could not come due to personal reasons, he said.

Claiming that the UPA has the support of 291 MPs, the RJD chief expressed confidence that the JMM will vote for UPA.

8220;This is the season for small parties, with one or two MPs, to show their importance,8221; he said.

Prasad also said BSP supremo Mayawati and BJP leader L K Advani will never become the Prime Minister.

8220;Mayawati is only being misguided by some people. Advani is also anxious to be the Prime Minister, but he also cannot be,8221; he said.

8220;I also want to be the Prime Minister, but can I be?8221; Prasad quipped.