Lalu Yadav's party upset after he wasnt made to share stage with PM Modi and Nitish Kumar.
Highlights
- Lalu Yadav sat on the floor with 3 union ministers in makeshift Gurudwara
- Seating reportedly decided by Gurudwara management and approved by PMO
- PM Modi visited Patna to celebrate Guru Gobind Singh's birth anniversary
A day after Lalu Yadav and his sons shared a meal with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an
event in Bihar to mark Guru Gobind Singh's birth anniversary, his party has raised strong objections to their chief not being seated with
PM Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Inside a makeshift Gurdwara set up in Patna for "Prakash Parv", former Chief Minister Lalu Yadav was seated on the floor, along with three union ministers and many others. PM Modi and Nitish Kumar sat on a podium.
"Why was Lalu Yadav seated on the floor? This is a mahagathbandhan (grand alliance), then shouldn't everyone be there?" demanded Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, a senior RJD leader. "It appears as if there is no coalition, that it is only a Janata Dal United government. People are very upset about this," Mr Singh lashed out.
Lalu Yadav's son and state minister Tej Pratap Yadav, however, shrugged: "Everyone sits on the floor in God's place. What can be said on it?"
If Lalu Yadav was offended, he has not commented till now. The seating was reportedly decided by the local Gurdwara management and approved by the PM's office.
PM Narendra Modi with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna.
On Thursday, rare camaraderie was on display when PM Modi shared lunch with Nitish Kumar, Lalu Yadav and his sons. The Prime Minister
ribbed Tej Pratap Yadav, saying: "Aap toh Kishan Kanhaiya ho gaye hain (you are becoming a likeness of Krishna)." He was referring to a recent photograph of Tej Pratap Yadav playing the flute, the instrument that Lord Krishna is depicted with.
Since their widely viewed bear hugs while forming Bihar's ruling coalition in 2015, Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav have labored over their - often patchy - relationship.
Recently, Lalu Yadav, whose party won more seats for the ruling alliance led by Nitish Kumar, denied any differences over his controversial partymen who face criminal cases and have been an embarrassment to the Chief Minister.
Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar also disagree on the notes ban.
The RJD chief is reportedly upset with Mr Kumar's declaration of "full support" to PM Modi, who returned the favour at yesterday's rally by praising the Chief Minister's liquor ban.