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Lalu's wrath over comment on Rabri Devi

Sunny Sebastian

A file picture of Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Assembly Speaker, Sumitra Singh, has earned the wrath of Union Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad for referring to his wife Rabri Devi, former Bihar Chief Minister, as "kam parhi-likhi" (less educated) in Patna on Tuesday. An unwitting comment, made rather as a word of appreciation at an orientation programme for newly elected MLAs, left Mr. Prasad -- who was not in the audience -- fuming for the sake of Rabri Devi.

The irrepressible Bihar politician, who never spares anyone when it comes to taking pot-shots, termed the comments from the Rajasthan Speaker as uncalled for and against the decorum of parliamentary democracy at a Press conference he addressed in Patna on Wednesday. He accused Ms. Singh of "misusing the platform" meant to educate freshers in parliamentary functioning. Mr. Prasad also talked about taking up the issue with the Lok Sabha Speaker, Somnath Chatterjee.

Back now in the Rajasthan Capital, Ms.Singh, a veteran of many elections and governments, said she never meant any disrespect to Ms.Rabri Devi. "I was appreciating the democratic system in the country and Ms. Devi herself when I said a less educated woman like her could administer the State as Chief Minister for nine long years," Ms. Singh said talking to The Hindu on Friday.

"Yeh to democracy ka kamaal hai!" (This is the miracle of democracy!), Ms. Singh said speaking on phone from her office in the Assembly as preparations are on for the Budget session of the House starting from February 28. "A housewife, that too not much educated, could achieve this in our country. I was complimenting both democracy and Rabri Devi," said Ms. Singh, educated at Rajasthan's prestigious centre for women's education, Banasthali Vidyapeeth.

Ms. Singh recollected that neither Mr. Prasad nor Ms. Devi was present at the venue of the orientation programme but some of the legislators had raised objection to her comments immediately.

Asked whether she thought the RJD chief was over-reacting to her comments, she said: "No comments".

What if Mr. Prasad keeps his promise to complain to the Lok Sabha Speaker? "What difference would it make for me? If Rabri Devi shows me her certificates I am willing to apologise," said Ms. Singh.

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