Katihar (Bihar), Dec 01: Former Bihar chief minister and RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav today blamed the Centre for fomenting regionalism and said it was because of this that Bihari students were being manhandled across the country. Addressing a "BJP bhagao desh bachao" (oust BJP save country) rally here Laloo charged Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray with laying the foundationa stone of regionalism and alleged that NDA government at the Centre was pursuing the policy of Shiv Sena chief.

Laloo, who recently visited Assam on a peace mission said that he would soon re-visit Tinsukia and Dibrugarh, the worst affected districts of ethnic violence to instill confidence among the Biharis in Assam .

He alleged the relations with the neighbouring countries had soured ever since the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee came to power.
Yadav termed the assembly elections in four states as semi-final and said the final bout "Lok Sabha election will be won by secular parties oppose to the BJP ... The communal BJP will stand no where as the people have recognised the real face of the party," he said.

Bureau Report