Did Lalu Prasad insult Ambedkar? New controversy stirs up political storm in poll-bound Bihar

A video of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav circulating on social media has sparked off a political storm in poll-bound Bihar, with his opponents accusing the former chief minister of insulting Constitution framer B.R. Ambedkar.

The video showed a portrait of the dalit icon placed at Lalu Prasad’s feet during his 78th birthday celebrations last week.

“The RJD supremo demonstrated his pettiness for which he will never be forgiven by the people of Bihar,” said JD(U) national general secretary Shyam Rajak.

Rajak, who returned to the JD(U) last year after quitting RJD, hit out at his former boss while heaping praise on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for uplifting the dalit community.

“Nitish Kumar's 20 years long tenure has been devoted to the uplift of all deprived sections in general and Dalits in particular. The impact of his policies is felt on the ground,” he said at a press conference in Patna.

In the controversial video, the ailing leader can be seen seated on a couch with his feet placed on a sofa nearby. A supporter enters the room carrying the portrait and places it close to Prasad's feet before greeting the RJD chief

On Saturday, the BJP attacked Lalu Prasad, saying he holds the dalits in contempt.

"This is testimony to the fact that Lalu Prasad holds Dalits in contempt and has no respect for the greatest leader from the depressed classes. He can have even pictures of gods placed at his feet,” said Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

The dalit leaders in the BJP like cabinet minister Janak Ram and state unit vice president Anamika Paswan have also come out with strongly worded statements against the RJD chief.

"The 14 crore people of Bihar are feeling ashamed and the entire family of RJD supremo should tender an apology. The leader cut the cake with a sword which indicates that his party wants to bring back the use of muscle power in public affairs to which the NDA had assiduously put an end", said Janak Ram.

Former poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who has entered the Bihar politics with his Jan Suraaj party, on Sunday challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to criticise Lalu Prasad for having a portrait of Ambedkar placed at his feet.

 "The Congress has reduced itself to a sidekick of the RJD in Bihar,” he said.  "I ask Rahul Gandhi to do a small thing to prove me wrong. Let him issue just one statement criticising Lalu Prasad for having a portrait of Ambedkar placed at his feet".

The RJD, meanwhile, sought to downplay the incidents with party leaders claiming that what had happened was "not intentional".

RJD spokesman Shakti Yadav has blamed the controversy on the "angle of the camera" claiming that the person who had brought the portrait of Ambedkar to Prasad's house was "still holding it in his hands".

Yadav has also insisted that Prasad, who suffers from multiple ailments, had placed his feet on a sofa "in keeping with medical advice".

India