Sushil Modi questions Nitish's silence on SC order on Lalu

Senior BJP leader Sushil Modi today questioned Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's silence on the apex court's order in a fodder scam case involving Lalu Prasad, but said if he severs ties with the RJD and requests to join hands with the BJP, it will be considered.

In a major setback to the RJD supremo, the Supreme Court had yesterday held that he has to face a separate trial in each of the cases in which he is an accused in the multi-crore fodder scam and if found guilty, he may be punished separately.

"The Supreme Court order will pose a major problem for the Grand Alliance government (in Bihar) and it will not be able to complete its term," Sushil Modi told media persons.

Asked if the JD(U) can have ties with the BJP, he said, "Let Kumar first come out of the Grand Alliance and then request the BJP. It (BJP) will then consider it."

Pressed about the expected time when the alliance would break, Sushil Modi, who was one of the petitioners in cases related to the fodder scam during Lalu Prasad's rule, said, "I am not an astrologer... But one thing is for sure - the Grand Alliance government will not be able to complete its five-year term."

Questioning Nitish Kumar silence on the matter, the BJP leader said the chief minister is not speaking on the apex court's order against his ally while he has sent K C Tyagi to stand in support of Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, who has been accused of being involved in graft.

"Nitish Kumar has compromised with the RJD chief for the sake of the CM's chair. It was on his and erstwhile JD(U) chief George Fernandes' direction that party leaders Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan and Shivanand Tiwari had filed a second petition in the Patna High Court against Lalu Prasad during the NDA rule in the state," he said.

Sushil Modi, who is also the leader of opposition in the state Legislative Council, said Lalu Prasad's political innings is "almost over" after the SC directed the trial court to conclude the proceedings in nine months from now.

The end of the RJD leader's political career will trigger a fierce "war of supremacy" within Prasad's family, he said, adding it would ultimately would lead to the party's doom and a fall of the Grand Alliance government before completion of its term.

Senior RJD vice-president Raghubansh Prasad Singh dismissed Sushil Modi's claims saying, "Whenever there is an attack from outside the Grand Alliance, it faces it with 'chattani ekta' (rock solid unity)."

Prasad's old friend and former MP Shivanand Tiwari said the BJP "knew that it would not be able to have its sway across the country till Lalu Prasad is there".