By IANS,
New Delhi : Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) member Lalu Prasad Saturday said fasting Anna Hazare was being misled by the people surrounding him, including former top cop Kiran Bedi who was eyeing polls.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha during discussion on a suo motu statement by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Hazare’s demands related to the anti-graft Lokpal bill, Lalu Prasad appealed to MPs not to allow subversion of parliament as it will ring the death knell of democracy in the country.
“We won’t allow the supremacy of parliament to be moved by an inch,” he said.
“Anna is being misled by the people around him. Kiran Bediji, if you want to contest the elections, go,” the former Bihar chief minister said in his inimitable style and invited bouts of laughter frequently during his speech.
Looking towards the treasury benches, he said she (Bedi) was “fit candidate” against Kapil Sibal who represents Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha constituency.
Lalu Prasad also took a dig at Hazare’s aide Arvind Kejriwal for trying to dictate the draft legislation on parliament. “Kejriwal is teaching us. Tell him standing committee is a mini-parliament.”
Pointing out that the MPs and the entire nation had great respect for Hazare, Lalu Prasad wished him a long and healthy life.
In a lighter vein, he asked MPs to learn “from Anna how to go without food for 12 days at the age of 74”.
He then claimed that he would run three kilometres. “Doctors should research and write a book to reveal the secret behind Annaji’s stamina for standing such a long hunger strike.”
Looking towards the media gallery, he also asked journalists to “save democracy, save the nation”.