Laloo, Rudy blame each other for violence

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April 29, 2004 16:53 IST

https://www.rediff.com/election/2004/apr/29rudy.htmWho was responsible for the violence in Bihar's Chapra Lok Sabha constituency when polling was held on April 26?

The two main contestants -- Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Prasad Yadav and Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Bharatiya Janata Party nominee Rajiv Pratap Rudy -- blame each other.

"People of this constituency have gone against him. They have lodged FIRs against him and his bodyguards... Law will take its own course," Yadav said in Patna.

"The Bihar government has not done anything... it is the people of Chapra. That is why, in order to cover this up, he is going around demanding countermanding of elections," he said.

Rudy termed the FIRs against him and his bodyguards as "politically motivated", as they were lodged four days after the polling.

"The cases of booth-capturing, scuffle and intimidation against me were lodged after I complained to the Election Commission. I told them that cases were being registered not only against me but also against several of my workers," he said in New Delhi.

"Polling took place on April 26 and the cases were registered on April 29. No case was registered on April 27. It is obvious that this has been done deliberately and it is politically motivated," he added.

Police have registered two cases against Rudy and his bodyguards charging them with booth grabbing, stealing and intimidating voters.

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