Saturday, October 22 2005 14:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Charging the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad with shielding Union Minister of State for Water Resources Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav allegedly responsible for 'illegal release'of his brother and RJD candidate Vijay Prakash, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Murali Manohar Joshi today (Oct 22, 2005) called for immediate dismissal of Jaiprakash from union ministry.

"Congress and RJD are trying to shield Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav who forcibly secured the release of his brother booked under non-bailable sections of the IPC for carrying firearm, huge cash and liquor bottles", Joshi told a press conference.

He urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to sack Yadav immediately and advised Lalu Prasad to resign from the union cabinet.

He took serious exception to the Congress leaders for strongly defending Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav and his brother Vijay Prakash and said, "The Congress has always been in the habit of glorifying the criminals".

"It is unfortunate that instead of condemning a candidate moving around with huge cash and liquor bottles for distribution at the time of polling, the Congress and RJD leaders are justifying such movement with firearm for self-defence", he said.