Lalu makes pun of anti-graft activists

New Delhi, Jan 2 (ANI): Talking a dig at supporters of anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare, who showed black flags to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in Punjab, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has mockingly said since they have shown the black flags, all the bad luck of the Prime Minister has gone away.

Talking to mediapersons here, Yadav said Dr. Singh has finally evaded the onslaught of the anti-graft activists.

"Since they have shown the black flags, all the bad luck of the Prime Minister has gone away. All the bad planets of the Prime Minister went away once the black flags were shown. Now nobody will cast an unlucky eye on him. It is all over in this new year," said Yadav.

A group of Hazare's supporters on waved black flags at Dr. Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur outside the Golden Temple, where they had gone to offer prayers.

As soon as the prime minister and his wife came out of the temple complex, around 30-35 agitators, including women, shouted "PM wapas jao (prime minister go back)".

Yadav also said that the members of Team Anna were largely responsible for his deteriorating health as he undertook fasts for several days.

"The people of Annaji's team are more responsible for his deteriorating health. I had said that health is wealth. As far as the Lokpal Bill is concerned, it has come for passing," he added.

The 74-year-old Hazare was forced to cut short his latest hunger strike on December 31 after a team of specialists advised him to start eating again on the second day of his fast, citing low blood pressure, weakness and threat to his kidneys.

Ever since he ended the fast, an ailing Hazare has been recuperating and resting in Ralegan Siddhi and this was after weeks and months of intense travelling, public speeches, press conferences and meetings in his crusade against corruption.

At his satirical best again, Lalu said that Hazare should take rest and leave it to the other members of Team Anna to undertake fast.

"The people of the team put Anna on fast every time there is a tension. Annaji is an aged man. The members of his team should play this game of 'football.' Since he is unwell, he should be told not to fast and they should undertake such fasts unto death. Be it Kejriwal, Kiranji, be it also Shanti Bhushan or his son, or even others like the comedian Kumar Vishwas. So let them sit for a fast," he added. (ANI)