The Hindu : Front Page : Lalu now wants to wield the willow

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 17, 2006

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Lalu now wants to wield the willow

K. Balchand

Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad now wants to bat against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar following the BCCI's recognition of the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA). Mr. Prasad is the BCA president.

Lalu Prasad

On Wednesday, Mr. Prasad told reporters that he would give Mr. Kumar a chance to bowl to him. "I'll bat."

When asked if he would not bowl to Mr. Kumar, he said: "I know how to bowl as well."

Mr. Prasad said he was thankful to BCCI president Sharad Pawar and member Arun Jaitley for unanimously restoring the BCA's validity. However, he clarified that he would further Jharkhand's interest without any discrimination.

Elections to put a new body of office-bearers in place at the BCA would be completed within three months. Mr. Prasad hinted at offering members from Jharkhand plum posts in the executive committee.

He said he planned to seek funds from the BCCI to renovate the stadium in Patna and host an international fixture there in the near future.

Members warned

Mr. Prasad expressed unhappiness over the manner in which some BCA members had threatened to immolate themselves in Chennai. He warned of action against them.

He also said he was looking forward to interacting with IAS and IPS trainees at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. He has decided to deliver a lecture there after the monsoon session of Parliament.

He said he would speak to them about the way the Railways had made a turnaround and the role of the bureaucrats in managing the country's resources for getting better yields.

UNI reports:

Mr. Prasad also said he would seek funds from the BCCI for improving infrastructural facilities to promote cricketing talents in Bihar and Jharkhand.

"Many more players like Dhoni will be groomed in Bihar," he remarked.

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