Photo: Pramod Sharma

NEW DELHI: The Union home ministry has downgraded RJD chief Lalu Prasad ’s security from ‘Zplus’ to ‘Z’ category, evoking a vitriolic reaction on Monday from his elder son Tej Pratap Yadav , who said he would get PM Modi “skinned”.

Lalu described Tej Pratap’s remarks as the “natural outburst” of a “hounded father’s angry son”. RJD’s ally Congress also defended Tej Pratap, with the party’s working president in Bihar Kaukab Quadri saying the Centre’s move had “provoked” him to make the statement.

An FIR was lodged against Tej Pratap at Parliament House police station following a complaint by BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma. The Centre decided to downgrade Lalu’s security, which essentially means withdrawing the NSG’s black cat commandos, after a review meeting of intelligence agencies on Friday on threat perception to VIPs.

The decision was made known to the media on Monday. The RJD chief will still be guarded by 35 CRPF commandoes. Calling the Centre’s move a conspiracy to kill his father, Tej Pratap told newspersons outside the Bihar assembly: “Narendra Modi ka khaal udhedva lenge (I will get Narendra Modi skinned).”

Lalu defended his son, saying, “Any young son will get furious over such victimisation of his father.” He added, “PM Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar would be responsible if anything happens to me (after the security downgrade).” He also took to Twitter to attack the PM.

“Suno Modi, Lalu darne wala insaan nahin hai. Kisi aur ko darao, jaise Nitish ko daraya. Bihar ki 11 crore janta aur baccha-baccha mera rakshak hai. (Listen Modi, Lalu is not one to be intimidated. Intimidate someone else, like you intimidated (Bihar CM) Nitish. Bihar’s 11 crore people and its every child is my protector).”

In another tweet, he said his security had been downgraded to deter him from visiting poll-bound Gujarat. He added that his vehicle was pelted with stones during Modi’s tenure as CM when he had visited Gujarat as railway minister. “… Lalu se kahe itna darte ho? (Why do you fear Lalu so much?),” he added.

Tej Pratap’s remark comes within a week of a similar threat he had issued to Bihar deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi after the latter invited the Lalu family to his son’s wedding. “He remains our enemy. If I go... I will disrupt the function and beat up (Sushil) Modi after entering his house,” Tej Pratap was heard saying in a video now viral.

The deputy CM changed the venue of his son’s wedding after the threat.

The Centre has also withdrawn ‘Z-plus’ security from HAM-S leader and former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, and downgraded Union minister Haribhai P Chaudhary’s cover from ‘Z’ to ‘Y-plus’ category

