Bangalore: Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha today accused Railway Minister Lalu Prasad of acting like a Mughal Badshah for transferring three officials, reportedly holding them responsible for security lapses and for serving cold food to him during his recent Karnataka visit.

Addressing a BJP state-level meeting here, Sinha said, "It's an irony of democracy that Lalu, who rose from the JP (Jayaprakash Narayan) movement, is now siding with Sonia Gandhi," he said. The officials were transferred earlier this week after Prasad was allegedly served cold food during his visit to the state. Prasad has ended whatever JP had stood for - fighting for democracy and crusade against against corruption -, the BJP National vice-president said.

Railway sources had claimed yesterday that the transfers were effected after Lalu Prasad expressed displeasure over security lapses during his visit to Tumkur and the cold food served to him during his travel on a special train.

The minister also had to face demonstrations by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activists, demanding increased representation for locals in railway recruitments. Though police had been stationed, the activists rushed inside and had to be dragged away by the police, the sources had said.

Source : PTI