Saturday, June 11 2005 19:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Railway Minister and RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) chief Laloo Prasad today (Jun 11, 2005) celebrated his 58th birthday pledging to fight "communal" forces more vigorously.

"My birthday pledge is to fight against the communal forces more vigorously," Prasad told reporters in an informal chat at his Rail Bhavan office, which saw a stream of visitors who turned up to wish the birthday boy.

Asked about his birthday message to the Opposition, he said they should do "good work" for the people and stop their "hate campaign" against minorities.

"There are other ways to do politics, that is the politics of peace, harmony and brotherhood," he said.

Asked to comment on the withdrawal of resignation by BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) chief L K Advani, Prasad said the Leader of Opposition has "completely surrendered to the communalists. His politics and that of his party have been thoroughly exposed."

On his birthday, he said, "In our times, we never used to have birth records.

But people say I have turned 58 today. I never used to celebrate by birthday, but now when people come, we have some celebrations. I have become a grandfather now."

There was humour as usual at the Rail Bhavan where Surender Kumar, the noted humorist from Haryana, cracked jokes, some even on the birthday boy himself and politicians in general.

Several RJD leaders and MPs, including Minister of State for HRD M A A Fatmi, Devendra Prasad Yadav and Prem Chand Gupta, besides senior officials, were present.