Lalu Prasad will never turn back on Congress

Lalu Prasad Yadav interviewed by ET. Excerpts

What are your political priorities on alliances?

All those who believe in the credo of secularism and social justice will have to come on board to thwart communal and fascist forces. The country will disintegrate if we do not face the challenge united. We will have to make sure that Partition is not repeated . The situation is very precarious, HIndutva forces want to foment tension in society. But now that I am free, I will be touring the length and breadth of the country and tell people about the threat the country faces from them. Importantly, secular parties will have to join hands for making a common cause against communal forces.

What if Congress does not opt for an alliance with RJD?

Sonia Gandhi, a great lady, called me up after I was released from the jail. She is aware of the ground reality of how fascist forces will have to be crushed. Being a key political party with organisational network spread all across the country, Congress has a huge role to play in uniting secular forces. On my part, I will do what is required for bring together all secular parties on one platform.

Is there any hint from Congress about an alliance?

RJD has been extending support to Congress and will continue to support it, crisis or no crisis. There have been some hiccups in our alliance but we have continued to support the Congress led government at the Centre. Then there are some leaders (read Nitish Kumar) who initially an favoured with Congress but have now turned their back after its defeat in the 4 state assembly elections. Lalu will never do that. There was a time when people were criticising Sonia Gandhi but I was one who backed her to the hilt.

What about a section in the Congress which wants to tieup with Nitish Kumar’s JD(U)?

Congress is an all-India party and RJD will like to forge an alliance with it. It will be our initiative to stitch an alliance with Congress. RJD favours such an alliance because it is the need of the hour. As far as Nitish is concerned, he is a spent force. He even had to lick the wounds in the Delhi assembly elections.

Will you formally approach the Congress leadership?

I will do whatever is required for bringing all the secular parties together. Congress as I said will also have to get its act together and make sure that communal forces are crushed otherwise the country will break.