'Nervous' BJP using govt. machinery to defame Lalu and family: RJD

Following the Income Tax raid on companies and people associated with Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Tuesday said that it was out of nervousness that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA Government was attacking the former Bihar chief minister and trying to defame his family.

"When we plan rallying for the secular party, BJP and union government get nervous, it is in that nervousness they are attacking Lalu Prasad Yadav and defaming his family. But we will not get scared by such acts, they have done this before and nothing has been proven," RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh told ANI.

He added that the BJP is acting with a feeling of revenge against them.

While visiting Lalu Prasad at his residence, his advocate Chitranjan Sinha denied the allegations, saying that the RJD chief doesn't even have 22 residences in Delhi.

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala asserted that the BJP is using government machinery to malign the opposition leaders.

"These agencies and machinery have become nothing but puppets in the hands of the ruling party," Surjewala said.

" BJP and the Prime Minister must know that democracy in this country is supreme. No matter the controversies that the government may try, the voices of the opposition will not be suppressed, the people of the country will not cow down or bow down nor will the opposition leaders be deterred. We will fight on and voice the concerns of the people," Sujerwala added

"If accusations are being levied then they must be investigated by a central agency. And now that the matter is being investigated it is good. NDA government-led by Narendra Modi is known for maintaining the law. The Law now is taking its course and this should be welcomed,' said former Bihar Chief Minster Jitan Ram Manjhi," he further said.

Earlier this morning, raids were conducted by the IT department at the 22 locations in Delhi, Gurugram on companies and people associated with Lalu.

A team of about 100 tax department officials and police personnel are reportedly carrying out the raids.

As per sources, the raids are being conducted on the charges of illegal (benami) land deals worth Rs. 1,000 crores.

The RJD chief is already under scanner in the fodder scam case.

Earlier on May 9, the Supreme Court revived criminal conspiracy charges against Lalu Yadav and other accused involved in the fodder scam case.

A two-judge bench also ruled that the trial should be completed within nine months.

-ANI