Madhu Trehan: Welcome to CANDIDATES 2014 on facebook Talks Live here on NDTV, I am Madhu Trehan from Newslaundry. Thank you all for coming to this multi platform show where we bring  you face to face, in person and online with leaders who could play a decisive role in the formation of the next government. Today we have the former chief minister of Bihar and the leader of Rashtriya Janta Dal, Lalu, to take questions from facebook users there, the audience here and me; to understand his position on policies that affect us. The new law of convicted individuals not being allowed to contest makes it impossible for Laluji to fight the Lok Sabha elections. However the Rashtriya Janta Dal, has in the past and will in the future,  influence the government formation  at the centre and that is what CANDIDATES 2014 is all about. After much drama a tie up with the Congress has finally been agreed upon but he is been distracted by his party members jumping ship, which also explains our presence here in Patna. There is never a dull moment with Laluji. I am sure that all of you have questions for him on his policies, his politics and his vision. Please welcome Lalu.

Lalu Prasad Yadav: Thank you

Madhu: Laluji, you are a politician who has from the very beginning spoken very openly to the media. Once you said that “I want to become the Prime Minister” and you said that candidly. But yesterday when Nitish Kumar said that he wants to become the prime minister you said he is drooling while speaking.

Lalu: This so called election is very different from all other elections. After this election the country would either take the path followed by Mahatma Gandhi or Nathuram Godse. The question is not of PM. The question you have asked. Many politicians can fit the candidature but only first the country has to survive. What I am seeing, I prophesize that situation will be very weird and confusion will be there around formation of the government. Our friends in the secular forces are also divided. Sometimes they are talking about a third front and sometimes about other alliance. Everyone is trying to ditch each other. This is not the question…the question is that will you save the country or not? What is Ashok Singhal saying? The agenda of the RSS or of the communal forces.  NarenderModi has become leader after crushing his senior party members only with the support of big houses. India and Pakistan have suffered the 1947 partition. Many people have suffered the 1947 partition. Mothers were separated from their children, brothers were separated from their sisters.

Madhu: What are you saying?

Lalu: I have said that…I can also become the Prime Minister. Why not?  Narender Modi says he was a tea seller. Do they know that Lalu Yadav was also a tea seller? People of Bihar know that. There is a veterinary college and poultry farm here where I used to sell tea. And earlier there used to be a danda biscuit which you would dip in tea and munch…I used to work all night. I am not saying that I sold tea. Nearby there is a Gandhi maidan where I called upon the workers to attend the Parivartan Rally in 45 degree temperature. I said…the people of Bihar save the country, the country is going to be divided.

Madhu: What you are saying is that the big parties like BJP have announced Narendra Modi as their PM candidate. Are you trying to say that the rich people are particularly propping the candidates? Are you saying that?

Lalu: No, The big house and the corporate houses are doing conspiracy to break the country.

Madhu: Arvind Kejriwal is also saying the same thing.

Lalu: Who is Kejriwal? What is his importance? Now we know that abusing the government from outside and actually running a government are two different things. You know what has happened in Delhi? He started a Janta Darbar…he had to be evacuated by the police. The media has destroyed the democracy. The people who abused the parliament…how can he disrespect the parliament. It’s very easy to criticise the government from outside. Madam the thing is not very simple that they are trying to break the county. Where there is no peace there is no prosperity. Here Budha was enlightened under the peepal tree.

Madhu: Both Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi’s poster says that “Todo Nahi Jodo”….Narendra Modi is saying…

Lalu: Madam I am coming to that. Have some patience. I can speak in one line.

Madhu: No you speak openly…

Lalu: The question you have asked. The country must be watching and thinking. Therefore it’s my responsibility. Here under the pepal tree Budha attained enlightenment, he became a God. He incarnated. What did he say? Budham Sharanam Gachami, Sangam Sharanam Gachami. Be intelligent. Unity should be strong. When there is peace there is prosperity. Narendra Modi was denied the USA passport. I was gagged for disclosing of the report on Sabarmati express massacre. When there will be no peace then 60% youth will be victim. Internal disturbance and external threat. On the Indo-Pak LOC, China is making bunkers within 50 Kms. Is this not a threat? In ladakh region, our soldier’s tents are being destroyed by them. If our country faces internal threat then that is a big threat. Point is to save the country and not about Prime Minister. Move to the next question or else I can talk about it for 3 hours.

Madhu: Yes there are so mau audience questions also.

Lalu: They will ask.

Madhu: We are short of time limit.

Lalu: I can understand. If there will be a diversion they will ask question. I will answer the questions.

Madhu: In this election, Corruption has become a big issue. You have been in politics… started politics in 1980s. At that time corruption used to be there… atmosphere was like that and there was chalta hai attitude . Corruption was the fuel for the elections. Elections expenditures used be met by corrupt money only. Money used to come from Corporate houses and there used to be circulation of Black money… But now how will this funding come from? Now everyone is a difficult position. As now there is a fear for corruption and also fear of getting caught.

Lalu: You mean to say that many industrialist are getting destroyed, now they will not give money to anyone.

Madhu: There will be difficulty in getting money…

Lalu: You should get information from Gujarat and Maharashtra, the corporate houses are there and working for Narendra Modi and for the communal and fascist forces. Vote on note is the rule there. Yes, the so called corruption is an issue. I have seen people taking it as an issue. I have been listening since childhood. But the question is that you cannot ignore communalism. To hide communalism they are bringing corruption to the fore. Main agenda is of communalism. These hifi people are trying to hide communalism and trying to break the county by pushing for the issue corruption. Anna Hazare, Kejriwal and KiranBedi did not come forward when there was communal attack in the country. You tell me that by making a law, will corruption stop after that? My suggestion was that all the rich people whose children are studying in foreign countries, who have farm houses in foreign land, who have apartments in every city of this country, who have huge farm houses in Delhi… government should take over all their assets and redistribute. Should ask about their source of the income…how much did they spend on the education of their children and on their marriage. Thieves call others thief. You tell me that I was involved in the fodder. Krishna was also called makhanchor. You know na. In this country….

Madhu: You are relating butter and fodder?

Lalu: Madam please let me speak. Does Narendra Modi know about the different crops…kaoni, sabha…..Ram paroi, sakarpala..

Madhu: Say it again?

Lalu: Does Narendra Modi know about the different crops kaoni, sabha…..Ram paroi, sakarpala..

Madhu: Even I don’t know. We are from the city.

Lalu: What do you mean by Cheena?

Madhu: Should I also ask you the meaning of tough words??

Lalu: Ask…

Madhu: No…No need for that. There is a question from the audience by Sankarshan Thakur.

Sankarshan Thakur: You have fought a long battle against communalism. Not only here but also in the country. I am asking this question in all seriousness…So I expect a serious reply and not the usual..Don’t back this away. There is an environment of communalism now a days in the country Can it be possible that Nitish Kumar and you join hands to fight communalism?

Lalu: Sankarshan, you know about the situation here. Nitish and I have been together for very long time. Lalu will die but will never join hands with communal forces. This is the vital difference. In the Sabarmati train incident, Nitish was the railway minister. Nitish and BJP alliances is to dislodge me from power. You know this and you have even written a book on that. You are a knowledgeable man. They all got together to remove Lalu. They even swept both the elections by 3% margin. They were earlier 63 and then turned 36 (They turned against each other.)When they got divided then Nitish Kumar was no longer a factor in Bihar.I am speaking truly and honestly. Nitish Kumar was no longer a factor in politics and in Bihar. He flagged the rath of Advaniji and I stopped the rath of Advaniji in Samastipur. That is the vital differences. How will I join hand in the future. He is not going to get any seat here. BJP also cannot face the force behind me. Now the upper class of Bihar, people of Bihar…they are saying that Lalu is not bad…He has not harmed anybody. But this gentleman Nitish Kumar, they are saying that he is very dangerous.

Madhu: Laluji, The time is slipping away…I want to ask you 2-3 questions.

Lalu: So this is impossible that RJD will join with Nitish Kumar in the future.

Madhu: I asked this question to Mamta Banerjee. She has been an unpredictable alley but you are a strong Congress loyalist. Whatever they did or said…even after that you have been loyal to the Congress. Did they support you that much?

Lalu: Madam, question is not of support or not. In UPA -1, I have been there and before that it was the same situation. To stop the communal and fascist forces we must look back at history. BJP was abusing Sonia Gandhi for being a foreigner.

Madhu: and you supported…

Lalu: Let me complete…so that people can understand. It’s not about the support. One women leader said that she would shed her hair if Sonia Gandhi becomes PM.I said…who said that she is a foreigner…she is India’s bahu and she will become the PM. Several leaders abused me for that.

Madhu: Then they didn’t support them…

Lalu: Madam listen to what I am saying. People used to say that Lalu has gone mad. Lalu was not mad. Those who opposed her then…later stood in favour of Sonia Gandhi. That great lady….

Madhu: This is buttering…

Lalu: Madam listen to me… this is wrong… It’s not about buttering. She said she will suggest a Sikh… a minority to become the Prime minister. She came here and  I refused and asked her to be the Prime Minister. She requested me to sign the recommendation for Manmohan Singh. He has been the PM for 10 years. He is an honest man. People in Delhi abuse each other…But this is very bad.

Madhu: But it has not given you anything…

Lalu:  What I will do in return…I will do whatever is required to stop communalism.  We stopped them for 10 years and will not let them come. Congress is an all India Party and secular party.

Madhu: There is a question from Facebook for you…from Abhishek  Jain…will you still support the Congress led UPA if Bihar is not granted the much yearned special status for “backward state”?

Lalu: Mr Jain, when Mr Vajpayee met Gandhi madam in Patna then my wife Rabri Devi was the chief minister of Bihar. Dalit women requested him to give special status to Bihar. Nitish Kumar was a minister then…Vajpayee said he will give the special status to Bihar for sure. Nitish Kumar saw him off at the airport but he refused because he said that Rabri Devi will get the credit. Then he changed. When they were in power then they forgot about the special category.

Madhu: Your whole thing is little confusing that can confuse the audience….is there any easy way to understand this? Here Nitish said something … Vajyapee did something.

Lalu: India is one and there is Bharat.I am talking about Bharat.

Madhu: There is an audience question by Subhash from Radio One…sorry Radio Mirchi.

Subhash: Laluji if the election results this time is similar to 1996 …If both UPA and NDA fails to get a majority and has to choose someone like Deve Goda as PM, then in that situation what will be your preference? Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee, Naveen Patnayak,Mulayam Singh Yadav or somebody else? Please specify the name…

Lalu: Don’t ask these question. Don’t tag us. This is a useless question. Whom to support….secular forces are sitting. Madam is saying take Mamata Banerjee’s name. They all are selfish. Whom to be with and whom to ditch. Nitsh Kumar said that he is very eligible… I will not support the communal forces.

Subhash: Choose one name.

Lalu: How can I choose anyone!

Madhu: We have to take a break. Complete your answer after the break. It’s time for a break. On the other side we will ask Laluji about his relationship with the media.

Madhu: Welcome back to Candidates 2014. We are speaking to the leader of RJD Laluji. Laluji you faced a lot of difficulties last year. Who do you think have stood by you in these difficult times?

Lalu: Janta is with me. And it is not just about what happened last year. From the time I entered politics there has been some trouble or the other. But I am the epitome of resilience. I have been saying this from the beginning that any other leaders would have been dead by now. But the people of Bihar and the people of this country know Lalu. The poor of this country knows Lalu. Also internationally…in this era of globalization and internet…

Madhu: But who betrayed you?

Lalu: I have said before that I would write a book one day. This is not the right time to write -there are a number of serious issues at the moment…caste, creed.

Madhu: Do you think you have a rival who tried to take revenge with the fodder scam case?

Lalu: No no that is not… I am not getting into all this now. I have appealed to the lower court…high court. I will get justice. That is not the issue here. But those politicians who went against me…all of them have faded away from the political space. God is above us. He is aware of what’s going on. Who all have harmed me… I am an innocent man.

Madhu: You are making a list of those people?

Lalu: I don’t have to make a list. I know who they are. That son of a Yadav goes to Delhi and lectures on who should be the next prime minister, who should be the President. Whatever I predicted did happen. I am aware of the kind of political talks that is going on in Delhi. God will punish them.

Madhu: We have a question from the audience…Piyush

Piush: Sir, you focus more on communalism. But the common man is more interested in economic policies. You don’t talk much about economic policy at all.

Lalu: No I am telling you the youth comprises 60% of the population of this country. And you are aware of the fact that I had once spoken on this issue…on IT…but in today’s world if we do not have peace how can we think of prosperity? And the youth of this country will be the victim. Mark my words. But are we discussion that issue? The leaders are merely giving lectures. But every mother will stop her son from leaving home in the coming years. Worse time’s awaiting us. I am not saying this for votes…you should introspect…you should acknowledge what I say…worse time ahead. I have seven daughters…they have children…and they will have their children. What will happen to them…to the youth of this country? Now we can at least have our daily meals in peace…but note down…

Madhu: Laluji there is a question from Facebook…from Nashid Ameen-Do you think your party will fare well without you contesting in the elections?

Lalu: Yes…have you seen the akharas in Delhi…there are so many akharas…they have so many bodybuilders there. So if Lalu can’t contest legal issues, Lalu’s akhara will contest. My team will contest and defeat all communal forces.

Madhu: Your family is your team here?

Lalu: No my wife is contesting from my seat. My daughter Misha Bharati ….

Madhu: Please tell everyone the meaning of the name Misha mean.( Smiles)

Lalu: They know what it means…learned men sitting here. It means maintenance of internal security act.  This girl is the daughter of revolution.

Madhu: But yesterday she sat there the whole day. Your entire family is in trouble. Your daughter waited the whole day to meet Ram Vilas Paswan . But he switched off his phone and left without meeting her.

Lalu: Yes he left.

Madhu: Today he spoke at a press conference. He said that RJD has failed. He said that his personal relationship with your family and you will be cordial. But he failed Rashtriya Janata Dal.

Lalu: No no he did not say that. He is an MP in the upper house of the Parliament.

Madhu: But didn’t you feel he was closing the door on you.

Lalu: We need to set the candidate everywhere. And I have sent my candidates everywhere…women, youth, minority, upper caste people, backward class. This is bad. If someone says I will stay loyal till the time you give me something in return. In the fight against communalism how can you think about your seat? I am not taking names here.

Madhu: Laluji we have seen for the last thirty years…media covering holy and diwali festivals at your house. We at news track also tried to cover.

Lalu: I used to play dhol every year. But now I will stop all that. It’s too cold in Bihar.

Madhu: Please let me ask you the question. I have seen you in politics for the last thirty years.

Lalu: You will see me in the coming years as well.

Madhu: Today you are in a very good mood. This is the old Lalu we know… who is humorous. But in between…when I was watching your interviews f the last few days…we used to say jab tak samose mein hai alu tab tak bihar me rahe ga lalu. But now your relationship with the media is soured.

Lalu: I don’t agree with you. See I have been very friendly with the media. I am a communicator. I communicated by giving simple examples.

Madhu: Have you scolded a journalist recently…two three days back?

Lalu: No…I train them.

Madhu: You train them on etiquette? (Laughs)

Lalu: No no…not on  etiquette. I give training. Now they hold the mic so close to your face that if you don’t shove them off your teeth will come off. So I had to push someone away and he accused me of…

Madhu: There is a facebook question from Akash Kumar Singh-Why is the crown of the party given to a next generation individual like Tejaswi Yadav? Aren’t there any more experienced leaders in your party?

Lalu: Tejaswi is my son. I don’t understand why everyone is against my family. Others in my family before me were uneducated. They did not become leaders. A doctor’s son should become a doctor.

Madhu: Why?

Lalu: No but if a doctor’s son can become a doctor why can’t a leader’s son become a leader?

Madhu: The problem here is that meritorious individuals will not get a chance.

Lalu: So how do you know that my son is not meritorious?

Madhu: Then its fine.

Lalu: But definitely kids from varied backgrounds should join politics. The youth of this country should join politics.

Madhu: Now Rahul Gandhi says that he would like to end the dynastic politics.

Lalu: How can I comment on Rahul Gandhi? I don’t think it is right to comment. He takes good decisions.

Madhu: We will take an audience question…Shreyansh

Shreyansh: Laluji you said that in Bihar we all are united. The whole of India is united. But people are not casting their votes they are voting their caste. Do you think this has an important part in the backwardness on Bihar?

Lalu: The people and some journalist friends always target Bihar. They insult Bihar by saying that there is caste issue in Bihar. But this issue is there everywhere in India and the world. It is there between the Blacks and the Whites. I think that caste supremacy should end. God has given us mines and minerals. But now the river Ganga divided us into two parts. From Gopalganj to Kisanganj…that area is the most fertile land. The population of the city is thick. The flood comes from Nepal and erodes our villages which lead to water logging. To target us…to say that we are backward because of caste is not right. This is nothing but insult to Bihar. They used to say that Bihar is rich but the people of the state are poor. We also had steel.

Madhu: Now we have to go on a break after which we would take some Facebook questions and ask Laluji about the future. Be back to hear what he has to say.

Break

Madhu: Welcome back. We are in conversation with Laluji  on CANDIDATES 2014 on Facebook Talks Live. We will take two more questions from the audience.

Akanksha: Today is Women’s day. Would you like to say something?

Lalu: Today is Women’s day. Women should get opportunities to join ministerial posts and so many women are working as ministers. It is true that we opposed the Women Reservation bill in Parliament because we thought that the reservation of the minorities should also be taken care of. Government should give reservation to women but it should be in a composite manner…including minorities, backward classes. And I think women are more honest than their male counterparts. They work hard. They are ahead of men in education.

Akanksha: Laluji you started with the JP movement and before the emergency your ideology was against the Congress.How did that change?

Lalu: You see I was a student leader. I made the twelve point programme. I made the programmes to stop corruption…improvement in education, subsidised meals in colleges. The government at that time was Congress. I was a student leader and I went against them. But later under the leadership of JP the situation changed. And JP said this is a total revolution…total revolution for what? JP explained that total revolution is for all those who have not been able to reap the benefits of education, health, employment. This was JP’s concept of total revolution. There are several books written on him.

Madhu: Will will take another question from the audience.

Audience Question: Good afternoon sir. When you were the railway minister you took profitability index of the Indian railways to the highest level. You dropped train fairs. And you talked about privatisation and there was a lot of foreign direct investment in India. In the coming election the portfolio that you might…

Lalu: See it is not a matter of portfolio. I have to first save the country…In the earlier days our kids went to Singapore…went to Harvard for training and education. But when Lalu was the Railway minister people from all over the world came to study the Indian railways.

Madhu: Laluji last question…Prison reforms…since you now have an idea…what kind of reforms would you want to see there.

Lalu: In which area?

Madhu: In jails. In your experience what is wrong.

Lalu: There are several problems. It is related with the judicial system. The people I saw in Birsa Munda jail…there are people who have lived in that jail for twenty years. But life imprisonment is that.

Madhu: But what kind of reforms would you like.

Lalu: We need reforms in Judiciary, Supreme Court and Civil Liberty. There areso many  people languishing in jail. There is no one to pay for their bail.

Madhu: Do you think you were treated unfairly.

Lalu: When I was the Chief Minister I had given remission twice for the prisoners and the old people. But these are several restrictions of the Supreme Court. I hope that the Supreme Court enquires about the jail positions and do surveys and see what they can do.

Madhu: Thank you Laluji for your time. Lalu, always political, always entertaining. The walking advertisement for the term Politicotainment. Thank you for watching CANDIDATES 2014 on facebook Talks Live here on NDTV with me Madhu Trehan from Newslaundry. Be there, get involved, never do nothing.