Tej Pratap Yadav rides a horse to his official bungalow

PATNA: Bihar Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav, who is RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's elder son, rode a horse from his parents' home to his official residence to celebrate Christmas, drawing sharp criticism from opposition BJP.

Accompanied by a posse of security personnel and a trained jockey on another horse, Yadav junior rode the half km distance from his parents' home at 10, Circular Road to his official residence at 5, Deshratna Marg yesterday.

Later, Tej Pratap told newsmen "I enjoyed horse-riding which I have done after many years...I had been doing it regularly years ago."

He also harped on the environmental benefits of horse- riding saying it helps in containing pollution and referred to growing air pollution in Patna and other towns in Bihar due to increasing vehicular traffic.

Tej Pratap holds Environment and Forest portfolio as well.

His ride drew sharp criticism from the Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar of BJP who said Tej Pratap was enjoying pleasure rides at a time when patients need improved facilities in hospitals which lacked infrastructure and medicines.