New Delhi:
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad on Tuesday targeted the BJP over its allegation that the government took hefty bribes ("mota maal") while allocating coal blocks, saying it must answer about its links with the Reddy brothers of Karnataka.
"With regard to the 'mota maal' referred to by BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, we want to know who used to take 'mota maal' from the Reddy brothers of Karnataka?" Lalu Prasad told reporters here.
Lalu Prasad, whose RJD supports the United Progressive Alliance, said the BJP-led governments in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh need to be questioned on mining of large quantities of coal and iron ore.
"Let's have a discussion on all this first," said the RJD leader, adding the BJP did not want a discussion about their own states.
He said the BJP was disrupting parliament as it wanted to stall the passage of The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation in Posts and Services) bill. "They (BJP) don't want it passed," he said
The Reddy brothers, two of who are former state ministers in Karnataka, are accused of illegal mining. One of them, Janardhana Reddy, has been in prison since Sep 5 last year. Karnataka is ruled by the BJP.
The BJP is demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over a CAG report faulting the government over allocation of coal blocks.