Wednesday, February 2 2005 15:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Taking strong exception to RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) president Laloo Prasad's charge that gangster Chunnu Thakur, who was involved in the DPS student Kislay's kidnapping, had links with the his party, LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) chief Ramvilas Paswan today (Feb 2, 2005) threatened to sue Prasad if he has made such 'derogatory statement.'

''I don't know what Laloo Prasad has said. I will go through his statement and the TV footage and file a defamation suit against him after verifying the facts,'' Paswan told a press conference in Patna.

Prasad has charged that Thakur, who was involved in the boy's abduction, had links with the LJP. Thakur, he claimed, had wanted a LJP ticket for the coming State Assembly elections for his wife, who was also held in connection with the kidnapping.

''Who is this Chunnu Thakur? I don't know him. It is bad in taste to hear about Laloo's allegation who is out to defame me and my party out of sheer desperation,'' he said.

''The timing of the recovery of the child - just a day before the first phase of Assembly polls suggests that RJD wants to make political mileage of it. But since the people are aware of these tactics of the RJD chief, they will not be fooled,'' Paswan added.

Kislay was released today by his abductors after holding him captive for a fortnight.