Modi is availing the benefits of work done by UPA government: Lalu Prasad Yadav

Former Bihar chief minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Friday once again attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, even as he regaled the audience with his wit and style at IBN Dialogue Bihar 2.0

Accusing the Narendra Modi government at Centre of availing all the benefits of the work done by the UPA, Lalu said that "BJP is creating an illusion of development and not doing any work".

Hitting back at the BJP over accusations of jungle raj, the former Bihar chief minister said that he had given voice to the backwards in the state. "Backwards and Muslims see me as a saviour," said Lalu.

"Anand of Super 30, which has produced several successful students, came to touch my feet. He told me, 'I couldn't have been what I am without you’," said the former Bihar chief minister.

Accusing the BJP of playing caste politics in the state, the RJD supremo conceded that caste system is a reality in the state. He blamed the NDA government of suppressing the caste census.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad's penchant of playing up the caste card was resisted fiercely by a group of youngsters in the audience. When Lalu asked if caste system was a reality or not, the youngsters countered by saying there was no such thing.

He then saluted the youngsters but told them that they cannot turn away caste system which is prevalent all over the country.

The RJD chief blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not making the details of caste census public to suppress the backward castes.

Targeting former Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, Lalu Prasad said, "Sushil Modi was Nitish Kumar’s Stepney, and now he is talking about jungle raj." Taking a dig at the BJP leader, he added, "I would have been happy if my earlier secretary Sushil Modi was sitting here."

He also blamed the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for "exponential price rise", accusing it of failing on all promises. According to the veteran leader, BJP is not a party, but merely a mask of the RSS.

The RJD chief also made a reference to the civil society movement led by Anna Hazare, which gave a jolt to the then UPA government. He said that the UPA extending a red carpet to civil society members was a mistake.