Monday, March 21 2005 13:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Taking oath today (Mar 21, 2005) five months after being elected to the Lok Sabha from Bihar, Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, an accused in the murder case of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) leader Ajit Sarkar, charged the media with hounding him and his family and demanded an immediate halt to his "character assassination".

Pappu, who was brought to Parliament House from Tihar Jail in New Delhi following a Supreme Court order, told the House that certain newspapers and TV channels were "impinging upon his personal interests" and "all kinds of things are being stated against a responsible person".

Elected from Madhepura constituency in Bihar in a by-poll in October last year on an Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) ticket after Railway Minister Laloo Prasad vacated the seat, Yadav took the oath in Hindi shortly after Question Hour when his name was called by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Pappu Yadav, who was shifted from Beur Jail in Patna to Tihar Jail by the Apex Court after authorities there found him using cell phone and holding "durbar" in prison premises, said he had never campaigned for Laloo Prasad during Assembly elections in Bihar in violation of the jail manual.

"These are allegations being levelled against me by certain sections of the media. I and my family are being traumatised. There should be checks and balances to prevent this," he said.

When the House adjourned for lunch, Pappu went to the Central Hall of Parliament to greet members.

After the oath, Pappu was seen meeting leaders of major political parties in the House.

He also sat in front benches to have a chat with Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan.