Lalu remains mum on Koda controversy

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad on Monday declined to comment on the ongoing probe into the alleged hawala transactions and investments involving former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda.

"I will not comment as the topmost investigating agencies, the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department, are conducting their probe. The media should not be a police officer nor is it competent (to reach conclusions)," Prasad told reporters.

Asked to comment on the reported finding of a diary containing names of prominent politicians, Prasad asked the media to desist from 'yellow journalism'. On RJD's support to the Koda government for 23 months, Prasad said there was nothing to hide about the support given by the Congress, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and his party, after the 'secular forces' removed the Bharatiya Janata Party from power.

Prasad, however, ruled out supporting candidates put up by Koda, saying he would camp in Jharkhand to support the 54 candidates put up by RJD and its allies. RJD has stitched up an alliance with Lok Janshakti Party, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India - Marxist and Marxists Coordination Committee in Jharkhand.

"The BJP is a sinking party," he said when asked whether the non-alignment of secular forces would grant an advantage to the BJP in the ensuing elections in Jharkhand.

Taking a dig at the Congress, Prasad said it had got a 'new player' in Babulal Marandi leading Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), who was behind the domicile controversy in 2002.

"They have brought a new player. Let them have an alliance. Marandi had incited the domicile policy and treated people from Bihar as Americans," he said.

He refused to comment on his party's post-poll alliances in case of a hung assembly.