PM takes a jibe at Lalu's Muslim quota remark

Modi says religion-based quota an insult to Ambedkar; RJD chief later makes U-turn

-  RAMASHANKAR & ANURAAG SINGH

BIHAR FORMER Bihar chief minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad on Tuesday stoked a controversy after he favoured "full reservation" for Muslims, drawing flak from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NDA leaders.

Lalu later backtracked on his statement after Modi and other leaders launched a broadside against him even as he countered the PM, asking if he was aware of the recommendations of the Mandal Commission.

Referring to Lalu's comment, Modi said in MP that the Congress was silent, but one of its allies confirmed the INDIA bloc's intentions of giving reservation to Muslims. He also referred RJD president as a leader "who ate fodder meant for animals".

Speaking to the media in Patna, Lalu alleged that the ruling BJP wanted to do away with reservations by scrapping the Constitution. "Reservation toh milna chahiye Musalmano ko, poora... They (BJP) want to finish off the Constitution and democracy of the country," the RJD supremo said.