Author: Pioneer News Service
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: August 14, 2008
'Maya case different'
The Congress has defended RJD chief Lalu Prasad
in the land-for-job scam, saying there cannot be any comparison between the
Railway Minister and BSP chief Mayawati as far as receiving gifts is concerned.
Lalu has been accused of doling out railway
jobs and contracts in lieu of land plots in the name of his family members,
including wife Rabri Devi. Mayawati had also been accused of amassing huge
wealth which, she claimed, was gifted by her sympathisers and party cadre.
"While in Mayawati's case, lakhs of unknown
people have been shown giving gifts to her, in case of Lalu a handful of people
have donated land through legal papers," Congress spokesperson Abhishek
Manu Singhvi said. "The Government and the Railways will reply after
checking the facts," Singhvi said.
Asked if it was proper on Prasad's part to
favour somebody, Singhvi said there was "nothing wrong" in someone
giving gifts to another if both were known to each other. "Suppose I
give a gift to you. Is it wrong?" asked the AICC spokesperson.
Replying to a volley of questions on the Congress
accusing Mayawati of receiving gifts and defending Prasad on similar charges,
Singhvi said, "Don't compare the two situations. They are entirely different."
