Lalu Yadav vows to launch pan-India campaign to "uproot" Modi government

NEW DELHI: RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, who is facing charges of alleged benami deals worth Rs 1,000 crore, on Friday vowed to uproot Prime Minister Narendra Modi led BJP government in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Former Bihar chief minister also announced a grand rally in August to parade opposition leaders in Patna's Gandhi Maidan against the Centre. "We have called for a grand rally on August 27 in Patna's Gandhi Maidan. I and Nitish Kumar on June 3 are going to invite Congress president Sonia Gandhi, HD Deve Gowda, Arvind Kejriwal, Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee and Karunanidhi. And from this very venue, we will launch a pan-India campaign to uproot them (BJP) from the Centre," Lalu said in ABP News' Shikhar Sammelan. Lalu said had Mayawati and Akhilesh joined hands before elections, BJP would have suffered defeat in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. "If you calculate vote percentage of BJP, it's less than the sum of what SP and BSP received. The infighting in SP and clash between SP and BSP were the reasons of BJP's success in UP. All of us have realised it now" he said. On Income Tax department's raids at 22 locations in Delhi and adjoining areas, Lalu asked 'BJP' to disclose the locations raided by IT sleuths. "I am asking, please disclose the 22 locations which are being raided. They are creating media hype to damage public perception," he said. He alleged the Centre is letting loose the government machinery on him. "Our companies are in public domain, in guidelines of income tax. The IT department has all the details about my properties. Allegations of benami deals are a conspiracy to defame me. Even the Inauguration of an English TV news channel happened by taking a 'supari' against me," he said. Calling Prime Minister as an "enemy of country", former railway minister said Narednara Modi is dividing the country. "We won't let him divide our country. Come what may, we will fight against such forces," Lalu said. "Modi talks about beef ban but in last three years Indian was the largest exporter in meat supply. In Kashmir, Pakistani flags are being raised, bodies of soldiers are being mutilated. These are some of the achievements of Modi government," he added.