Profile: Lalu Prasad Yadav

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Among the most charismatic of politicians in India, the incumbent Union Railways Minister and RJD President, Lalu Prasad Yadav began his political career early and was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1977 as a 29-year-old. A sitting MP from Chapra, Bihar, here's more on Lalu Prasad Yadav:
Date of Birth - June 11, 1948
Place of Birth - Phulwaria, Bihar
Father - Late Kundan Rai
Mother - Marachhiya Devi
Marital Status - Rabri Devi
Sons -2, Daughters - 7
Positions held in public life:
1977 - Elected to the 6th Lok Sabha as a 29 year-old
1990-1997 - Bihar Chief Minister
1996 - National President of Janata Dal
1997 - National President of the newly formed RJD
2004 - Union Railways Minister
Lalu Yadav's declared assets:
Bank balance - INR 12.22 lakh
Immovable assets - nil
60 cows and 36 calves - INR 10 lakh
Vehicle - 1990 model Maruti 800 - INR 15000/
1977 military disposal jeep - INR 10000/
The affidavit of his wife Rabri Devi (former Bihar CM) and his children indicate that they are richer than Lalu himself. (Source: PTI)
Education:
B.A., LL.B.
Educated at Patna University, Patna, Bihar
Lalu and his team have been credited with turning the fortunes of the Indian Railways, which was until then a loss-making organization.
After his Railways success, Lalu had been invited by several top Business Schools that included IIM-A and Ivy League schools to address their students.
Laluisms:
I will make Bihar's roads as smooth as Hema Malini's cheeks.
When people see how I manage to work my way out of tough situations, it gives them hope in their own life.
If you do not milk the cow fully, it falls sick.
I work so much. If I don't get all the comforts, I will turn mad.
On forming a separate front with SP and LJP, Lalu said, "We are here to show the country that we are united. We will continue to work together after the Lok Sabha polls, even in the next Assembly elections. We have nothing to do with the Third Front. We are still with the UPA."
On Varun Gandhi: "If I were the country's home minister, and if Varun had said this, then I would have run a roller over his chest and thought about the consequences later."

Source : http://in.news.yahoo.com/photos/slideshow/profile-lalu-prasad-yadav.html

Israeli missile deal major poll issue: CPI-M

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Israeli missile deal major poll issue: CPI-M 
Tue, Apr 14 10:27 PM

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Tuesday said a $1.4 billion missile deal India has signed with Israel would be a major issue during the Lok Sabha polls, the first phase of which commences Thursday.
'It is already a major issue in Kerala. In West Bengal also, this issue will come up as part of a larger question as to how the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has dealt with alleged cases of corruption,' CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters here.
'This Rs.10,000-crore deal was signed only two days before the elections were announced. We have been writing to the prime minister for the last one year not to sign the deal,' Karat said.
The CPI-M leader said: 'The same government had filed an FIR against a former defence minister for alleged irregularity in a defence deal involving the same company. So we will make this a major issue.'
The deal, for the supply by Israel Aerospace Industries of an anti-missile air defence system, was signed in February but made public only in March. It is the biggest defence deal between the two countries.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony has defended the deal, saying it was 'clean' and contains a clause providing for its cancellation if it is proved kickbacks were involved.
Karat also referred to the alleged scam related to 2G spectrum allocation by the telecom ministry.
'The licenses given were undervalued. These companies are selling them at five or six times the amount. The total loss to the exchequer is Rs.one lakh crore,' he said.
Karat said his party had asked for a probe, but the government had refused this.
Asked about his party's alliance with Abdul Nasser Madani's People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Kerala, Karat said the PDP had supported the Congress in 2001 on the condition that the party secure Madani's release from jail in connection with the Coimbatore blasts.
In 2006, Madani accused the Congress of betrayal and supported the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).
'Madani has been acquitted in the blast case. We have not entered into an alliance with him. If they support us, why should we reject their support?' he asked.
Karat, on the contrary, accused the Congress of trying up with an 'extremist organisation' in Kerala, the National Development Front.
'It's name may sound very innocuous. But intelligence reports say that it is extremist and violence prone. Such organisations should not be encouraged,' Karat maintained.

Indo Asian News Service 

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20090414/818/tnl-israeli-missile-deal-major-poll-issu.html