Cracks in opposition unity in Lok Sabha

Fissures in opposition unity came to the fore in the Lok Sabha today with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad making a veiled attack on BJP president Nitin Gadkari for targetting him and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav over the issue of CBI probe against them.

"A leader of a political party holding the top post had made derogatory remarks against me and Mulayam Singh. He, however, apologised later," Prasad said in the House while demanding that the adjournment motion on price rise be admitted by Speaker Meira Kumar.

"Kis CBI se hamko dar hai (which CBI are we afraid of)?.... Such statements are not only demeaning but are aimed to demoralise," the RJD leader said.

Prasad said he had won a CBI case in the Supreme Court and another was pending in Ranchi, while Mulayam was also fighting the cases against him.

"How can we be afraid of the CBI? ... We know how to deal with such behaviour. We take decisions on our own and do not depend on anyone else," Prasad said.

In a public rally in Chandigarh earlier this month, Gadkari had said Mulayam and Prasad had betrayed the opposition on the cut motions on the budget in Parliament as they had CBI cases against them.

Prasad also said both BJP and Congress doled away subsidy just before elections. "Both of you won elections on the basis of these subsidies. Are you (Government) going to do the same this time as well," he asked.