Slogans, black flags welcome Ravi Shankar at Patna airport

New Delhi: Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who arrived in Patna on Tuesday for the first time after being declared BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Patna Sahib, was shown black flags by supporters of another BJP leader in Patna.

Prasad, a resident of the Bihar capital whose late father was a state minister and leader of the Jansangh, was shown black flags by the supporters of RK Sinha, a Rajya Sabha member, who was hopeful of a ticket for the seat which is currently held by dissident MP Shatrughan Sinha.

The sloganeering and protest by Sinha's supporters led to a clash with BJP workers who had gathered at the airport to welcome the Lok Sabha poll debutant. Reports said that the clash erupted as Prasad landed at airport and Sinha's supporters started raising slogans against him. Slogans of "Ravi Shankar Prasad- Go back, go back" welcomed the Union Minister as he exited the airport in Bihar capital. The protester, holding black flags also chanted "RK Sinha-Zindabad, zindabad (RK Sinha-Long live, long live). "Ye hawa hawai neta hain inke pass karyakarta nahi hain. Ek galat aadmi ko ticket diya gaya hai jo kabhi janata ke beech nahi raha. (He - Ravi Shankar Prasad - is a leader without any base. He doesn't have workers. The ticket has been given to a wrong person who has never lived among people)," a protester said.

The Union minister drove away while telling the posse of mediapersons who stood waiting at the airport, "I thank my party for considering me for this great responsibility. I will be giving my best shot. The BJPs commitment to nationalism and good governance will help Narendra Modi return to power."