Tuesday, September 13 2005 14:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bihta: In a veiled attack on the Election Commission, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad today (Sept 13, 2005) charged that the officers belonging to the Muslim community and weaker section of the society were being 'victimised' and ridiculed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) charge that he won the elections 'on the strength of official machinery.'

Kicking off the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) campaign for the coming assembly poll at Bihta, about 35 km from the state capital, Prasad cautioned the people against the 'communal and feudal forces' represented by the NDA trying to capture power 'by hook or crook.'

Without naming the election commission, Prasad said several IPS and other police officials, particularly those belonging to Muslim community and weaker sections, including Yadavas, had been 'shunted out'.

Even 57 DSPs are being removed on 'frivolous' charge that they had enjoyed 'bright postings' during the RJD rule.

"It is unfortunate that transfers and postings reflect the caste and religious bias. Muslims and Yadavas in the police establishment are being handpicked and shunted", he charged.

In the same vein, Yadav ridiculed the NDA charge that he and his party had been in power for 15 years 'by manipulating and misusing the official machinery.'

"We have been in power not because of IGs or DSPs but because of the people's unflinching faith in social justice and secularism", he asserted and asked the people to cast their ballots on the 'lantern (symbol of RJD), ghari (of Nationalist Congress Party), panja (of Congress) and hammer and sickle (of Communist Party of India Marxist).'

Prasad said he would leave for New Delhi on September 18 to hold talks with the leaders of Congress, NCP and CPI-M over the seat-adjustment but kept his offer for alliance open with others, apparently the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).

He, however, was unsparing in attacking LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan whom he described as an agent of 'communal and fascist forces.'

Lalu was also critical of the president's rule, which he alleged had unleashed 'injustice' on the poor people. Yadav, however, gave a clean chit to governor Buta Singh saying the officials in the state bureaucracy were responsible for it

Targetting NDA's chief ministerial candidate Nitish Kumar, RJD boss said ''Nitish is being backed by the feudal forces. His dream of becoming Chief Minister will never come true.''

He urged the electorate to give one more chance to the RJD and assailed the 'communal and fascist' forces for 'trying to grab power by hook or crook.'

This is a do or die election for Lalu, whose party was ousted from power in the February polls after 15 years.