Sharad Yadav meets Lalu in jail, advocates opposition unity

Sharad Yadav, ousted from the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), on Monday met RJD chief Lalu Prasad in the Birsa Munda Central Jail here and discussed the current political scenario and pushed for unity among the opposition parties.

Sharad Yadav, who arrived in Ranchi on Sunday evening, was accompanied by former Chief Minister and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik president Babulal Marandi during the meeting.

After meeting Lalu Prasad, Yadav said that the Narendra Modi government "is a threat to the Constitution and the democracy of India".

He said that his purpose of meeting Lalu Prasad was to "unite the opposition parties against the central and state government".

Sharad Yadav has launched a Yatra across the country to unite opposition parties. He has already visited a few states.

He also spoke with Leader of Opposition and Executive President of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Hemant Soren regarding opposition unity.

Lalu Prasad is in jail since December 23 last year, serving sentence in two fodder scam cases.

Sharad Yadav's meeting with Lalu Prasad drew taunts from JD-U spokesperson Neeraj Kumar who said that Yadav is "desperate for a Rajya Sabha seat", and hence went to meet him.

"Sharad Yadav has met Lalu Prasad in jail in search of a Rajya Sabha seat," said Neeraj Kumar, considered close to Janata Dal (United) President and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Sharad Yadav had revolted against Nitish Kumar after he joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party and formed government in Bihar in July 2017, after dumping the Grand Alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress.

Since then, Sharad Yadav has publicly opposed Nitish Kumar's decision and joined hands with Lalu Prasad's RJD.

--IANS

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