Land-for-job scam: Sushil Kumar Modi says Lalu family can’t escape punishment, GA allies call it ‘political vendetta’ | India News

PATNA: Hours after a Delhi court issued summons to RJD chief Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and their son & deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav in the alleged land-for-job scandal, BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday claimed the CBI was in receipt of such strong evidence that “none of them could escape punishment”. The scam allegedly surfaced between 2004 and 2009 when Lalu served as the union railway minister in the UPA-I government.
Modi who served as state deputy CM before being nominated to Rajya Sabha said the scam was, in fact, exposed by JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh in 2009 when he submitted a memorandum to then PM Manmohan Singh along with evidence.Singh’s party is currently a key ally of the rulingGrand Alliance in the state.

“It was Lalan Singh who had first exposed the scandal in 2009. In his memorandum to the then UPA PM, he mentioned how Lalu as railway minister had been giving jobs to the youths in Indian railways in exchange for land plots, and also submitted strong evidence in his support,” Modi told the media on Friday adding the CBI has got such strong evidence against all the accused persons that none could escape punishment.

Modi further asked deputy CM Tejahswi Yadav to explain how he became the owner of a palatial bungalow worth Rs150 crores located in Friend’s Colony of Delhi. “Lalu had extended an open offer at that time:

‘Zamin do, naukari lo’

(give lands and get railway jobs),” Modi alleged saying although Lalu ruled the state with the votes of poor but he “removed the poverty of his own family only”.
The Grand Alliance allies, however, alleged the case is more political than legal and accused the Narendra Modi government at the centre of acting with bias against the opposition leaders. “The actions against the Lalu family give the impression of political vendetta and the country will deliver its reply on the opportune moment,” Congress spokesperson Asitnath Tiwari said. He wondered how NCP leader Ajit Pawar who was accused of indulging in a mega scandal by the BJP got clean chit once joining the saffron camp.
Defending the Lalu family, JD(U) MP Sunil Kumar Pintu alleged the central agencies have got active now with the LS elections drawing closer. “We find the central agencies suddenly getting active as the elections draw closer. We urge the court to take cognizance of the matter and come to a decision,” Pintu told the media.
But Tejashwi himself put up a brave face saying they were not surprised by such acts. “This (issuing of summons) is not a new thing. This will continue to happen in future too. This is neither the first nor the last, but we must say that the case holds no merit,” Tejashwi said, interacting with the media persons on Friday.