Fodder scam: Lalu pens open letter from jail, takes a swipe at BJP and Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Hours after a special CBI court sentenced Lalu Prasad Yadav to 3.5 years in prison in relation to the fodder scam, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief took to Twitter to share his thoughts about the whole episode in an open letter.

In the letter, written in Hindi, Lalu says his conviction does not make him scared and that he'd never compromise with political ideologies of secularism and rights for Dalits and backward classes.

आप सबों के नाम ये पत्र लिख रहा हूँ और याद कर रहा हूँ अन्याय और ग़ैर बराबरी के खिलाफ.. pic.twitter.com/PMTrOU8GB8

— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) January 6, 2018

The letter launches a scathing attack on BJP, RSS and 'Manuvadis'.

In a separate tweet, he accuses BJP of resorting to 'black magic' and 'witchcraft':

झाड़-फूँक व जादू-टोने से ईमानदारी साबित करने वाले भाजपाई मंत्र “हमारे साथ आइये नहीं तो आपको बर्बाद कर देंगे” को मानने की बजाय मैं सामाजिक न्याय, समानता और समरसता के लिए खुशी-खुशी लड़ते हुए मरना पसंद करूंगा।

सबको नीतीश समझा है का??

— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) January 6, 2018

“Rather than practising BJP’s Simple Rule – “Follow us or We will Fix you”. I will die happily fixing myself for Social justice, harmony & equality,” another tweet said.

Earlier today, the RJD supremo was sentenced to 3.5 years in jail and fined Rs 10 lakh by the special CBI court in the fodder scam case relating to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from the Deoghar Treasury 21 years ago.

On December 23, Lalu had said that his Twitter handle will be operated by his office in consultation with his family while he's in jail.

Reacting to the sentencing, Lalu's family and party members hit out BJP and Janata Dal (United).

Lalu's younger son and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said they would appeal to the High Court countering the judgement.

"Lalu is not the name of a person but of an ideology. We, his followers, will not be cowed down," said Tejashwi.

He later tweeted:

Thank you very much Nitish Kumar

— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) January 6, 2018

Lalu's daughter also took to Twitter, questioning if Dalits and backward classes want justice.

क्या दलित, पिछड़ों को बथानी टोला, लक्ष्मणपुर बाथे इत्यादि नरसंहारों में न्याय चाहिए?
"तबला बजाएँ!"

— Dr. Misa Bharti (@MisaBharti) January 6, 2018

Meanwhile, the Bihar Congress asserted that the RJD supremo's conviction will not have any impact on the party's ties with the RJD in the state.

"The special court's judgement to convict and sentence Lalu Prasad will not have impact on forces fighting for secularism and social justice. Congress-RJD alliance will continue in Bihar," Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee acting president Kaukab Qadri said.