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A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Court in Ranchi has sentenced former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and others to 3.5 years of jail along with a fine Rs 5 lakh. After the court announced the punishment Yadav, took to Twitter to share a letter with his followers and also tweeted saying that he will happily die fixing himself.
While Lalu chose to tweet about the BJP, here’s how political leaders reacted to news of his conviction:
Yadav Sons Claim He’s Innocent, Allege Conspiracy
Both Tejashwi and Tej Pratap Yadav have said that they are sure that the RJD chief wil get bail soon.
We are confident that he will get bail. We have full faith on judiciary. We are not going to be cowed downTej Pratap Yadav to ANI
At a press conference on 6 January, Tejaswi Yadav said they would go to High Court to apply for bail.
The judiciary performed its duty. We will go to the High Court after studying the sentence and apply for a bailTejashwi Yadav to ANI
Congress, Janata Dal Say Ties With RJD Will Remain Unaffected
Congress leader RPN Singh said that while the Congress has always been against corruption, its alliance with the RJD will remain unaffected as it is with the party and not with an individual.
Congress has always waged war against corruption. As far as the alliance is concerned, it is with RJD and not particular individuals.RPN Singh
Member of Parliament and Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav has said that the party’s ties with RJD will remain strong irrespective of the fodder scam verdict.
“Justice Has Been Done”
Welcoming the jail sentence to RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, the BJP said the corrupt faced consequences of law, adding there was no political interference.
Public money was looted from the government treasury. These are out and out black and white cases of corruption. No amount of press conference is going to help Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) politically. What is important to this country is that politicans who have indulged in brazen acts of corruption actually face consequences of law for their corrupt deeds.BJP Spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao
In a tweet, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said BJP's charges against Lalu Prasad "were vindicated" by the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court.
Conviction is conviction. Either 3.5 years or 7 years... Our charges against Lalu has been vindicated by the court. AR Kidwai, Deve Gowda were not BJP men when Lalu was prosecuted in Fodder Scam. Court was monitoring the case. Lalu went to jail during his own rule. Where is bias?Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi
Lok Janshakti Party leaders Ram Vilas Paswan and Chirag Paswan welcomed the court order.
BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said the verdict shows the law is equal for all.
The court has done its job, and this is a message that if anyone robs the country of its wealth, however important, then the law is equal for all. This is justice for the people of Bihar because it was their money that was looted.BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain
KC Tyagi of JDU was quoted as saying a new political chapter has begun with the court's decision and it means politicians will be afraid of committing any such wrongdoing.
It will now be difficult to keep the RJD together and people in politics will be fearful. This is the end of a chapter that started with Laluji’s leadership, where there was politics of corruption, nepotism and non-governance. We welcome this judgement, this will prove to be a historic decision in Bihar politics. It is the end of a chapter.Janata Dal (United) Secretary General K C Tyagi
(With inputs from IANS)
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