Janjivan Bureau
PATNA: RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Wednesday asked PM Narendra Modi to reply in ‘yes’ or ‘no’ whether he received Rs 40 crore from the Sahara group as has been alleged by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.
Addressing a dharna programme against demonetisation organised by his party at Gardanibag area here, Lalu said Rahul Gandhi has given the details of the alleged ‘multiple payments’ from Sahara to Narendra Modi. Rahul has categorically claimed that when the Income Tax department raided Sahara’s premises in 2014, they recovered documents showing that payments have been made to Modi between the months of October 2013 and February 2014, Lalu said.
“Why are you not replying on Rahul Gandhi’s allegations? Why are you silent on such serious allegation?” Lalu dared the PM to file a defamation case against Rahul Gandhi if the charges levelled by him are baseless.
Addressing a rally at Mahisana (Gujarat) a week ago, Rahul had alleged that Sahara paid Rs 40 crore to Modi before he became Prime Minister, and also gave the details like date and amounts of the alleged payments.
RJD had organised the dharna programme on the completion of 50 days’ time period sought by the PM to end people’s discomfort caused by the note ban. Large number of RJD workers had turned up at the dharna site to hear their leaders especially Lalu Prasad.
Dismissing opposition’s allegation that there was a chasm in grand alliance on the issue of protesting the demonetisation, Lalu said it was the dharna programme of RJD and not all allies of the grand alliance. “RJD, being a party of poor people, labourers and farmers, has been opposing Modi over note ban since the beginning, whereas CM Nitish Kumar has announced to review his stand after December 30,” Lalu said.
