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Laloo shuttles between court and assembly

Our Correspondent in Patna

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Yadav is shuttling from the Central Bureau of Investigation court to the state assembly these days.

Ever since the trial in the disproportionate asset case started on July 4, he finds it extremely difficult to attend pre-lunch sessions of the assembly.

As he had to be present in court on all days till the trial concludes, he cannot leave Patna for any distant place, except on Sundays or government holidays.

Co-accused in the case, Chief Minister Rabri Devi, his wife, has been exempted from going to the court daily. Her lawyer is representing her.

Since the court is hearing witnesses in the first half and Laloo's presence is essential, he had to miss the pre-lunch session of the assembly. His absence during Question Hour and Zero Hour is often missed by the RJD, as it gives the opposition an opportunity to corner ministers.

Only yesterday, Revenue Minister Ramai Ram found difficulty answering questions. No RJD ministerial colleagues came to his rescue.

The House burst into laughter when an opposition legislator commented: "Make him chief minister so that he need not speak anything in the House.''

Rabri often watches proceedings silently.

However, Laloo often compensates for his absence during the pre-lunch session by being over-aggressive in the post-lunch session, as on Wednesday, when he forced opposition leaders into silence when they sought Rabri's resignation.

During the pre-lunch session, the House was adjourned twice on the issue, but with Laloo in the House, the opposition beat a hasty retreat.

The monsoon session began on June 23, and till July 3 Laloo often came to the rescue of ministers. He will attend only post-lunch sessions till July 21, the last day of the monsoon session.

The daily appearance of Laloo in court is not getting much media attention now, as most journalists prefer to cover the assembly session.

The CBI court is to hear 174 witnesses in the disproportionate asset case. With special CBI judge S K Lal being replaced by S K Pathak, it is to be seen whether the court will be able to complete the trial within six months, as sought by the Patna High Court while granting interim bail to Laloo on May 10.

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