Patna: Keeping up his diatribe against Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader and his Cabinet colleague Ramvilas Paswan, Railway Minister Laloo Prasad today (Nov 29, 2004) dubbed his party as a gathering of 'mafia elements' and him their leader who were bent upon discrediting Bihar.

''LJP mafia ka jamghat hai aur Paswan uske sargana hain jo Bihar ko badnam karne par tule hue hain" (LJP is a gathering of mafia elements and Paswan is their leader. They are bent upon bringing a bad name to Bihar), Prasad said addressing a gathering after flagging off the 'Village on Wheels' special train.

Referring to LJP's Nov 27, 2004 rally where Paswan described him as 'chara chor', Laloo said, "The mafia elements who are with Paswan used foul language against RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) leaders, including me''.

RJD President expressed his concern over the delay in recovery of abducted NHPC (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) General Manager T Mandal and warned that if the official was harmed the gang responsible for it would be sternly dealt with.

Naming controversial Lok Sabha Member Surajbhan Singh and LJP MLAs Munna Shukla, Rajan Tiwari, Rama Singh and former MPs Anand Mohan and Kali Pandey, Prasad said, ''I warn such people to mend their ways or face consequences''.

The Railway minister reiterated his accusation against Paswan that he was involved in irregularities in the Rs 800 crore purchase of cranes from a foreign company in 1996-97 when he was Railway Minister in the H D Deve Gowda Government and said he was going to expose the LJP leader.