Rattled by Income Tax raids, Lalu Prasad Yadav says Narendra Modi-led BJP has new 'alliance partners'

Shortly after the Income Tax Department conducted raids at over 22 places in Delhi and Haryana in connection with alleged Rs 1,000-crore benami land deals involving RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, the veteran politician hit back saying the BJP can't supress his voice.

New Delhi/Patna: Veteran politician Lalu Prasad Yadav on Tuesday hit out athe Narendra Modi-led BJP dispensation at the Centre after the Income Tax Department conducted raids at over 22 places in Delhi and Haryana in connection with alleged Rs 1,000-crore benami land deals involving him.

The former Bihar chief minister hit back, saying the BJP can't suppress his voice.

In a series of tweets, the RJD chief said that he will continue to fight against the Fascist forces and will not be scared by these tactics.

BJP को नए Alliance partners मुबारक हों। लालू प्रसाद झुकने और डरने वाला नहीं है।जबतक आख़िरी साँस है फासीवादी ताक़तों के ख़िलाफ़ लड़ता रहूँगा। — Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) May 16, 2017

BJP में हिम्मत नही कि लालू की आवाज को दबा सके।लालू की आवाज दबाएंगे तो देशभर मे करोड़ो लालू खड़े हो जाएंगे।मै गीदड़ भभकी से डरने वाला नही हूं

— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) May 16, 2017

The RJD chief also dubbed the Income Tax Department as the new alliance partner of the Narendra Modi-powered BJP, which is allegedly being used to scare rival politicians. 

In another tweet, Lalu said that his party's alliance with Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal United remains intact and efforts are on to bring more anti-BJP parties together.   

ज़्यादा लार मत टपकाओ।गठबंधन अटूट है।अभी तो समान विचारधारा के और दलो को साथ जोड़ना है।मै BJP के सरकारी तंत्र और सरकारी सहयोगियो से नही डरता https://t.co/eh9hUexU0t — Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) May 16, 2017

A visibly cornered veteran Bihar politician made these reactions hours after his 'friend' Nitish Kumar ruled himself out of the prime ministerial race in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

In an apparent softening of stand towards the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre, Nitish had yesterday said that he is not in the race for becoming prime minister since he is incapable, while also calling Modi 'a capable leader having potential to lead the country'.

Earlier today, the Income Tax sleuths raided several locations linked to Lalu Yadav and RJD MP PC Gupta's residence as well as several businessmen and real estate agents in Delhi and Haryana's Gurugram and Rewari.

The raids began around 3 am on Tuesday, in which over 100 officials were involved. Income Tax officials also searched over 10 premises of some government officials.

The IT Department's action comes in the wake of the allegations made by former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi.

PM Modi had earlier accused Lalu Yadav and his children - Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav and Rajya Sabha Parliamentarian Misa Bharti - of being involved in corrupt land deals. 

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had on Monday said that if there was documentary proof or solid evidence against the RJD chief and his family then the central government should take legal action.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had demanded a CBI probe into the "shady" land deals.

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has alleged that RJD chief's daughter Misa Bharti has not disclosed these alleged assets in her election affidavit and has demanded that the Election Commission take action against her. 

The BJP leader also alleged that the land deals were done during Lalu Prasad's tenure as Union Railway Minister in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. 

Following the IT raids, Sushil Kumar Modi, who has been repeatedly accusing Lalu Prasad and his family in the "benami" properties case, told the media in Patna that his stand was "vindicated".