Narayanan is not a leader but a mandarin: Lalu

New Delhi, Oct 12 (UNI) Irked over the comments of National Security Adviser M K Narayanan that banning Bajrang Dal is not the solution to the communal violence convulsing Karnataka and Orissa, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today said Narayanan is not a leader but a bureaucrat.

Mr Prasad, at the official inaugural ceremony of the 56th Senior National Kabaddi championship, said, ''Narayanan is not a leader, he is a bureaucrat.'' Communal violence in Orissa and Karnataka is expected to dominate the National Integration Council (NIC) meeting here tomorrow with some participants likely to raise demands for banning the Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

The meeting, to be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, will look to evolve ways to tackle such situations which impact national integration.

It is also expected to discuss ways to improve coordination between the Centre and states in curbing communal violence as also terrorism, which has witnessed a spurt in recent months.

RJD and LJP have been vehemently demanding a ban on Bajrang Dal and imposition of President's rule in Orissa, but some other UPA constituents like DMK, PMK and NCP are opposed to it.

Asked about the views which RJD will present in the meeting, Mr Prasad said, ''Today is Ram Manohar Lohia's death anniversery and yesterday was Jayaprakash Narayan's birth anniversery. So they both had the thinking of spreading equality in the country, to think about the last benchers, how to promote them, about peace and providing security to all sections of society. Even we should stick to that ideology and play our part in the meeting.'' Mr Prasad hailed Sister Alphonsa, a Kerala nun who today became the first Indian woman to be canonised by the Vatican.

''This is really good news. I welcome this achievement. She is like Mother Teresa,'' he added.

UNI CS RP RK1657