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Lalu postpones Patna rally
December 21, 2004 10:32 IST
Last Updated: December 21, 2004 10:57 IST
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad has decided to postpone his rally in Patna on Thursday in view of the Election Commission's tough posture vis-à-vis the model code of conduct for the Bihar assembly election.
"I have decided to postpone the proposed 'Garib Kisan Rally' to end the controversy arising out of the commission's directive against the RJD and filing of a case against me," he said on Tuesday.
He dismissed the charge that he had flaunted the code of conduct by distributing money to poor women in Bihta area near Patna on Saturday.
"There was no ulterior motive behind distributing money to the women for buying sweets as they wanted to celebrate my elevation as railways minister," Prasad said.
A first information report was filed against Prasad on Monday on charges of attempting to bribe the electorate.
The EC also threatened to derecognise the RJD over the episode.
The EC directed the railway board not to run special trains or divert any trains for the December 23 rally.