Handsome crowd at Lalu Prasad's Iftar, JD(U) and Cong presence low

Patna, July 13: People from the minority Muslim community thronged Iftar party of RJD president Lalu Prasad here in large numbers, but no JD(U) minister or senior party leaders were seen on the occasion.

Prasad hosted Iftar at his 10, Circular Road residence, which witnessed full attendance of RJD leaders, sans any state minister and senior party leaders from JD(U).

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, as per his scheduled programme, flew to Delhi to be present in the Iftar organised by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Only one JD(U) MLA Poonam Devi Yadav and a MLC Sanjay Singh were seen at the function.

Congress' presence at Lalu Prasad's Iftar was also visibly low. With most leaders going to Delhi for the Iftar party of Sonia Gandhi, MLC Vinod Chaudhary and one other member of the Upper House attended the feast hosted by Prasad.

Buoyed by presence of a large number of Muslims at his Iftar, Prasad told reporters from next year he would organise Iftar at the sprawling Gandhi maidan.

He attacked BJP and said "They have nothing to do with either Ram or Rahim and take recourse to religion only for political purpose."

Prasad and other family members played perfect hosts mingling with visitors and looking after their convenience. The RJD president held a microphone and was seen making announcements and guiding people to right place.

Wife Rabri Devi and sons Tej Pratap and Tejashwi Yadav extended helping hands and were seen mingling with people and providing skull caps to those who did not have them.

PTI